Quote from: Phil [Chaa006] on October 19, 2012, 07:55 PM
Quote from: Tommy Timebomb on October 19, 2012, 05:42 PM
Now please do tell me... Does eating too much spicey food (especially curry) give you stomach ulcers?
Has anybody had any problems with their health (apart from piling on a few pounds) that they equate to too much spicey food etc?
My former g.p., herself from the sub-continent, once said to me "Curry, worry, chilli : very bad for tummy". She added black coffee to the list, too 
** Phil.
It's strange that a GP (and one from the sub-continent, where the health benefits of spices have been known for thousands of years) should make such a sweeping - and grossly incorrect statement.
While there is much evidence for the health benefits of the spices used in curry, there is no evidence that eating too much chilli is unhealthy, or that it causes ulcers. In fact, capsaicin is used in anti-inflammatory creams to treat ailments like arthritis and shingles. For even though it may feel as though the spice is setting your mouth on fire, capsaicin actually helps ease pain. That's because over time, capsaicin depletes the pain-causing neurotransmitter, Substance P. What's more, chillis may help you lose a little weight, as capsaicin helps suppress body fat accumulation (in particular, a 2009 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that capsaicin plays a role in abdominal fat loss). That may be because the spice alters key proteins found in fat, triggering them to break down fat.
While some people may have sensitive stomachs or perhaps medical conditions that too much chilli aggravates, as a long-term chilli and curry addict I can only speak from personal experience, which indicates that 35 years of daily indulgence has produced no ill effects whatsoever (bar the occasional 'morning after' discomfort after going a little too far
).
As for health benefits accruing from other curry spices, cumin is a good source of iron, and studies have shown it may help lower blood glucose levels. It also has antibacterial properties, and has been found to be effective at killing Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria linked with stomach ulcers, while black cumin can help reduce inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Turmeric has been much in the news of late, after studies showed that it contains a remarkably effective anti-cancer agent called curcumin. (Some of you may have seen it featured on C4's 'Food Hospital' program.) Leicester university scientists have already started trials to test its ability to kill bowel cancer tumours. Another study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research found that turmeric supplements suppress a cell signaling pathway that fuels the growth of head and neck cancer.
Ginger is well known for its myriad health benefits, including its anti-inflammatory properties. Two other phytochemicals in ginger - shogaol and zingerone - have anti-tussive and anti-inflammatory properties, and can bring relief for cough and congestion from a cold or the flu. They are also known to minimise discomfort from the ravages of arthritis. Suffering from muscle soreness? Research published in the Journal of Pain shows that consuming two grams of ginger supplements daily eased exercise-induced muscle pain by 25 percent over an 11 day period.
Cinnamon contains iron, calcium, manganese and even fibre and is loaded with health benefits. It contains substances that work as antioxidants to protect cells against damage caused by harmful free radicals - substances found in the environment and inside the body that destroy cells. The spice may also be a diabetic's new best friend. It has a remarkable effect on regulating blood sugar, and several studies suggest that cinnamon may help regulate blood glucose as well as blood pressure in people with Type 2 diabetes. One study found that consuming two grams of cinnamon for 12 weeks significantly reduces the HbA1c [a test that shows blood sugar levels], systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in those with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes.
I won't go through the rest of the curry spices, but hopefully the above is enough to challenge the notion that "Curry, worry, chilli: very bad for tummy".
In other words, get those spices and curry pans out and start eating yourself healthy!
