Spicy food can be quite polarizing; some people enjoy the burning sensation they get while others avoid it at all costs. However, if you happen to belong in the latter group of people, it may be a good idea to give spicy food a try. Recent research suggests that capsaicin, the compound in chili peppers that is responsible for their heat, can work wonders in stopping lung cancer progression in its tracks.

A spicy new treatment

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women – making up almost 25 percent of all cancer deaths. The ACS also estimates that more than 220,000 people develop lung cancer every year, with 135,720 people succumbing to the terrible disease. This emphasizes the need to search for brand new lung cancer treatment.

This study, presented at the American Society for Investigative Pathology’s annual meeting during the 2019 Experimental Biology meeting in Florida, found that the spicy compound in chili peppers could fight off a process called metastasis, which refers to when cancer spreads to distant parts of the body.

“Lung cancer and other cancers commonly metastasize to secondary locations like the brain, liver or bone, making them difficult to treat,” said lead researcher Jamie Friedman in a statement. “Our study suggests that the natural compound capsaicin from chili peppers could represent a novel therapy to combat metastasis in lung cancer patients.”

For the study, the researchers from the Marshall University – Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine looked into the efficacy of capsaicin in three cultured lines of human non-small cell lung cancer cells. They observed that the compound managed to inhibit the first stage of metastasis they call “invasion.”

Next, they also conducted an animal trial in which they fed laboratory mice with lung cancer a diet enhanced with capsaicin. The results revealed that these animals exhibited much smaller areas of metastatic cancer cells in the lung compared to mice who did not receive capsaicin treatment.

Further experimentation showed that this compound slows down metastasis by inhibiting the activation of the protein Src. This protein is needed in the signaling that controls the survival, proliferation and mortality of the cells.

“We hope that one day capsaicin can be used in combination with other chemotherapeutics to treat a variety of lung cancers,” said Friedman. “However, using capsaicin clinically will require overcoming its unpleasant side effects, which include gastrointestinal irritation, stomach cramps and a burning sensation.”

The researchers hope that future studies can identify capsaicin analogs that are non-pungent while also retaining its anti-cancer abilities.

Other health benefits of chili peppers

These red-hot fruits aren’t only cancer-fighting machines, they also provide various benefits that improve overall health.

1. Used for pain relief. Capsaicin also binds with pain receptors, inducing a burning sensation but not causing any real injuries. This causes the pain receptors to be insensitive to other forms of pain, like heartburn caused by acid reflux. In fact, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that about 2.5 grams of red chili peppers are enough to relieve heartburn pain after a 5-week treatment.
2. Assists in weight loss. Obesity is a growing health problem that can significantly increase your risk of developing various chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. Capsaicin can be a solution to this problem by reducing your appetite and increasing the body’s ability to burn off fat. According to a study published in the International Journal of Obesity, capsaicin can also reduce calorie intake.

Take up the fight against lung cancer by literally spicing up your diet with red-hot chili peppers. Learn more about foods similar to these peppers at Superfoods.news.

Sources:

MedicalNewsToday.com

Eurekalert.com

NEJM.org

Healthline.com

Nature.com