Chongqing, China, For people with high blood pressure, some foods such as salty foods and caffeine should be avoided. But for those who hooked with spicy food, so food can be a drug to lower blood pressure.
According to a recent study, eating foods that can cause a burning tongue, aka spicy foods, can help lower blood pressure. This is very helpful for people who have high blood pressure.
"Hypertension affects more than 20 percent of people in China's north-east compared to 10 to 14 percent in China's south-west, where many residents there who eat foods that are spicy and hot," explained Professor Zhiming Zhu, who led the study, as reported from Dailymail , on Thursday (05/08/2010).
Researchers from the Third Military Medical University, China, discovered the active ingredient that gives a sense of heat in chili peppers, which is a compound called capsaicin, can help relax blood vessels. Relax blood vessels that make normal blood pressure or decreased for people with high blood pressure.
Capsaicin is a chemical derived from natural vegetable. This material is used by the chili for the defense system itself so as not to be eaten by predators such as animals.
The compound works by activating the capsaicin receptor channels found in the lining of blood vessels. This causes increased production of nitric oxide, a gas molecule that is known to protect from inflammation and vascular dysfunction.
Further research is needed to see how much chili to be eaten every day in order to have a positive impact on the human body, particularly those related to blood pressure.
The results of this study have been published in the journal Cell Metabolism August edition.
source: (http://www.detikhealth.com/read/2010/08/05/143021/1414238/766/makanan-pedas-bisa-turunkan-tekanan-darah)