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Love Sriracha? It Might Help You Live Longer

If you’re one of those people who insist that a dish has no flavor unless there’s hot sauce on it, then you might actually be on to something big. Big like the Fountain of Youth.

new study from the University of Vermont, which collected data from more than 16,000 people over 23 years (that's a lot of hot sauce), found that consumption of red hot chili peppers (no, not the band) is associated with a 13 percent reduction in total mortality—primarily in heart-disease- and stroke-related deaths. 

And get this: Even though a common denominator among red chili pepper consumers included folks who drank more alcohol and smoked more cigarettes, they still lived longer on average. 

But before you dive headfirst into the party-hard lifestyle, know that researchers are still trying to fully understand their findings. Their inkling? The lower mortality rate has something to do with a chemical called capsaicin. Found in many other spicy foods (like cayenne pepper, jalapeños and habanero chilis), its antimicrobial properties have typically been linked to mechanisms that decrease obesity and moderate blood flow. Not bad, capsaicin, not bad.

Either way, Queen Bey was definitely on to something when she sang, “Got hot sauce in my bag, swag.” So what are you waiting for, Bey? Pass the Tabasco.

Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe



RF1

Director, Branded Content + Cohost, Royally Obsessed Podcast

As Director of Branded Content at Gallery Media Group, Roberta helps oversee the ideation and execution of sponsored content and experiential campaigns across PureWow and ONE37pm, including PureWow’s 24 in ’24. She began her career in editorial nine years ago, and has written and edited countless articles on news, trends, fashion, beauty and the royal family. She’s also cohost of the Royally Obsessed podcast, named one of the best royals podcasts by The New York Times and Town & Country. She cowrote the book Royal Trivia: Your Guide to the Modern British Royal Family.