What are the potential benefits and risks of eating spicy food?
Research suggests that eating spicy food may be linked to a lower risk of dying from certain diseases. A 2025 review of 28 studies found that consuming spicy foods, especially those containing capsaicin, was associated with a reduced risk of developing malignant tumors, cardiovascular diseases, and parasitic infections, and also with a lower overall mortality risk [5]. This means that people who regularly eat spicy food might have a lower chance of dying from these major causes.
However, the same review also notes that the relationship is complex, and other studies point to potential harms [5]. For example, a large Chinese study of over 500,000 adults found that people who ate spicy food daily had a 12% higher chance of reporting a history of fractures compared to those who never ate it [1]. The risk increased with the frequency and strength of the spicy food, and was stronger in men and in rural areas [1]. This suggests that a very high intake of spicy food might weaken bones or increase fall risk, possibly due to its effect on pain sensitivity.
Does the effect of spicy food differ between men and women?
Yes, the effects of spicy food appear to differ between men and women. A study of over 53,000 Chinese adults found that women who ate spicy food three or more times a week had a 12% lower chance of having high blood pressure compared to women who never ate it [2]. This protective effect was not seen in men, where the association was not statistically significant [2]. This suggests that for women, regular spicy food consumption might help manage blood pressure, a key risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Conversely, a study of over 4,600 Iranian adults found that men who ate spicy food 10 or more times per week were more than 2.6 times more likely to have heartburn compared to men who never ate it [4]. No such link was found in women [4]. This indicates that men may be more susceptible to the digestive discomfort that spicy food can cause, which could offset any potential longevity benefits.
How does spicy food affect pain and what does that mean for health?
Spicy food has a complex, two-sided effect on pain. A 2021 study of 60 healthy adults found that the immediate sensation of spiciness (spicy stimulation) actually increased pain tolerance, acting as a short-term pain reliever [3]. However, the same study also found that people who ate spicy food three or more days per week had a lower baseline pain threshold, meaning they were more sensitive to pain [3]. This suggests that while a spicy meal might temporarily dull pain, a long-term spicy diet could make you more sensitive to pain overall.
This change in pain sensitivity could have health implications. For example, if you are less sensitive to pain, you might not notice a minor injury, which could lead to a more serious problem like a fracture [1]. A 2025 study using brain-wave measurements (EEG) confirmed that eating spicy food can reduce the brain's response to pain, especially for minor pain, but also led to slower reaction times and lower accuracy on tasks [6]. This means that while spicy food might offer some pain relief, it could also dull your awareness of your body, potentially increasing the risk of accidents or injuries.
Sources used in this answer
Spicy food and self-reported fractures.
Frequent and strong spicy food intake is associated with a higher risk of self-reported fractures in Chinese adults, especially in men and rural areas.
Association between frequency of spicy food consumption and hypertension: a cross-sectional study in Zhejiang Province, China
Frequent spicy food consumption is linked to lower odds of hypertension in women, but not in men, in a Chinese cohort.
Effects of Spicy Stimulation and Spicy-Food Consumption on Human Pain Sensitivity: A Healthy Volunteer Study.
Spicy stimulation provides short-term pain relief, but long-term spicy diet is linked to lower baseline pain tolerance in healthy adults.
Spicy Food Consumption and Risk of Uninvestigated Heartburn in Isfahani Adults.
High consumption of spicy foods (≥10 times/week) is associated with a 2.6-fold higher risk of heartburn in men, but not in women.
A Review on the Role of Spicy Food Consumption in Reducing Mortality
A review of 28 studies found that spicy food consumption is associated with reduced risk of several diseases and lower overall mortality.
The analgesic effect and neural mechanism of spicy food intake.
Spicy food intake reduces pain perception and brain responses to pain, but also slows reaction times and reduces accuracy.