Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
There are many health benefits of eating spicy foods, including some research that suggests it's linked to a longer lifespan, says Dr. Trisha Pasricha, a physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and The Washington Post’s Ask a Doctor columnist.
However, the jury is still out on the link. So if you don't like spicy foods, don't feel like you need to eat them just for any potential health benefits, she says.
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There are many health benefits of eating spicy foods, including some research that suggests it's linked to a longer lifespan, says Dr. Trisha Pasricha, a physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and The Washington Post’s Ask a Doctor columnist.
However, the jury is still out on the link. So if you don't like spicy foods, don't feel like you need to eat them just for any potential health benefits, she says.
Subscribe to The Washington Post on YouTube: https://wapo.st/2QOdcqK
Follow us:
X: https://x.com/washingtonpost
Instagram: instagram.com/washingtonpost
Facebook: facebook.com/washingtonpost
Threads: threads.com/@washingtonpost
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/washingtonpost.com
