The main bioactive compounds present in chili peppers and ginger are capsaicin and 6-gingerol, respectively. These compounds can be attributed to the the many health benefits that ginger and chili peppers have. Previous studies have shown that 6-gingerol has potent anticancer properties. On the other hand, some researchers believe that capsaicin, which gives chili peppers their flavor, might also be carcinogenic.
Researchers wanted to determine if the combination of ginger and chili pepper would exhibit anticancer properties like 6-gingerol or if it would promote tumor growth. They determined this through studies conducted on mice that had high lung cancer risk. Three setups were used for this study, one where only 6-gingerol was given, another for capsaicin alone, and lastly, a setup where both 6-gingerol and capsaicin were given. After several weeks, tumor development in the lungs of the mice was observed.
For the capsaicin-only setup, all mice exhibited tumor growth in their lungs. Meanwhile, only 50 percent of the 6-gingerol mice developed tumors, which is significantly better than capsaicin. The combination of capsaicin and 6-gingerol proved to be superior since only 20 percent of the mice given this treatment developed tumors.
It was determined that 6-gingerol binds to capsaicin when they are administered in tandem, which creates a stronger and more stable compound that can bind to cell receptors that promote tumor growth, consequently inhibiting their activity.
When consumed alone, ginger already exhibits potent anticancer effects but with the addition of chili peppers, it becomes so much more effective. (Related: Ginger destroys cancer cells more effectively than cancer drugs.)
Other health benefits of ginger and chili peppers
As previously mentioned, there are many health benefits associated with ginger and chili peppers. These include the following:
- Relieving nausea – Historically, ginger has been used for treating sea sickness. Recent studies show that it is also effective against other forms of nausea, such as morning sickness and post-surgery nausea.
- Promoting weight loss – Capsaicin has been shown to improve metabolism by promoting processes that utilize energy and burn calories. In addition to this, eating chili peppers can also suppress appetite and alter proteins involved in fat accumulation.
- Maintaining good heart health – Both chili peppers and ginger have the ability to reduce harmful cholesterol levels in the blood. Aside from this, chili peppers can also improve blood flow by allowing the dilation of blood vessels.
- Improving digestion – Eating chili peppers might not seem like a good idea for people already experiencing digestive problems but studies say that capsaicin is good for digestion. Chili peppers not only neutralize stomach acids that cause ulcers, they also stimulate the production of saliva and bile that are necessary for digestion.
- Preventing neurodegenerative diseases – Ginger is rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals that have anti-inflammatory properties, which protect the brain from age-related damage.
Learn more about the synergistic anticancer effect of ginger and chili by visiting Cancer.news today.
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