Eat hot foods and stave off breast cancer…
Breast cancer affects a staggering number of women every year. According to BreastCancer.org, roughly 1 in every 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. And it’s not just minor tumors or growths—it’s INVASIVE breast cancer, the type that is aggressive and requires seriously preventive measures. It’s estimated that 2016 saw a whopping 250,000 new cases of breast cancer.
But according to a new study, the capsaicin in chili peppers may be the solution to dealing with breast cancer!
A team of researchers from German clinics led a study that examined the effects of capsaicin on cultivated cells of triple negative breast cancer, a highly aggressive form of cancer that is more difficult to treat than other types. Triple negative breast cancer doesn’t respond to any medications, leaving chemotherapy as the only treatment option.
But when capsaicin was administered to the cancer cells, it activated olfactory receptors in the cells. Olfactory receptors are the proteins that bind the molecules together. One in particular, called TRPV1, is stimulated by capsaicin. When it’s activated, it is able to inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells.
When the researchers added capsaicin into the cancer cell cultures, the TRPV1 receptors were activated. This caused the tumor cells to die off in droves, and it slowed the mobility of the cancer cells. The cancer cells were less able to metastasize (spread) as a result of the contact with capsaicin.
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Now, let’s be clear: according to the research, the quantity of capsaicin found in food—even VERY spicy foods—just isn’t enough to suppress cancer cells. To work, large quantities of concentrated capsaicin need to be administered directly to the cancer cells. This means that you can’t “eat away the cancer” just by adding more spicy food to your diet.
What it does mean is that medications can be developed using the knowledge of capsaicin’s effectiveness on cancer cells. If new drugs were able to switch on the TRPV1 receptor, it would suppress the spread of cancer and potentially kill off cancer cells. The information obtained through this study may lead to important breakthroughs into cancer treatments.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy capsaicin in your diet! You’ll find that the spicy chili peppers do more than just add delicious flavor to your food. There are a lot of other benefits of capsaicin, including:
- Better circulation
- Reduced inflammation
- Pain reduction
- Better insulin regulation
- Lots of antioxidants
- and so many more…
The truth is that chili peppers are a wonderful addition to your meals. Not only will they add a bit of heat to any dish, but they give your food an earthy, rich flavor that you won’t find elsewhere. Even if you’re not a huge fan of spicy foods, it’s worth adding more spice to your food in order to obtain the health benefits listed above.
Capsaicin is one of the primary ingredients in Tiger Balm, one of the most effective analgesic creams around. It’s also used in Icy Hot, Vicks VapoRub, and other creams to soothe aching joints, muscles, and reduce inflammation. It’s a truly marvelous ingredient! Thanks to this research, there may just be one more awesome use for the red hot chili peppers. Some day, you may end up treating cancer with a medication made using the capsaicin in the spicy peppers!
