People who eat chili peppers may be less likely to die of cancer and heart disease

A new study found that people who eat chili peppers may be 26 percent less likely to die of heart disease and 23 percent less likely to die of cancer than everyone else. Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic compared data from over 570,000 people in the U.S., Italy, China, and Iran, Insider reports. Their findings did not determine how many or what chili pepper selections to eat in order to lower the risk. Nor did they prove that eating chili peppers can directly cause better health outcomes. Previous research has concluded that eating hot peppers may reduce inflammation, lower the risk of certain illnesses, and relieve pain. These benefits are linked to the chemical capsaicin, naturally found in hot peppers and responsible for the spicy sensation associated with chilis.