Hot red chilli peppers linked to longer lifespan

Conclusions The researchers conclude from their observational study that hot chillies may be beneficial to health. However, there are several points to bear in mind: This is observational survey data that can't prove direct cause and effect. The researchers have made a valiant attempt in following the survey participants for mortality outcomes for almost 20 years, and tried to adjust for many different health and lifestyle factors that could be influencing the link. However, it is still likely that these adjustments have not been able to fully account for all of these factors – and there may be other unmeasured factors that are influencing the link. The analysis only looks at the very general link with any hot chilli consumption in the past month vs. none. It doesn't look at quantity or frequency of chilli consumption – or type of chilli for that matter. Therefore the "chilli consumers" could include anything from a person who included a single chilli in a curry over the past month, for example, to people who daily eat several of the hottest chillies. Therefore it doesn't give you a great deal to go on. No links were found with any particular cause of death – only the overall association with mortality that has compiled all deaths. This makes it more difficult to draw much meaning from the results. Even if chillies are directly influencing mortality, this study can't tell us by what mechanism they could be doing this. The study has only looked at a...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Food/diet Source Type: news