Are you the type of person that scoffs at those that choose the ‘mild’ option at a restaurant? Are you enlivened by tingling in your tongue and sweat on your brow after bravely biting into a ghost pepper? Do you bring a bottle of hot sauce with you to every meal?

Well, although you’ve probably already felt it, you no longer need to justify such feelings because it turns out hot sauce doesn’t just prickle your palate — it also provides a whole host of health benefits.

That’s right, those habanero peppers aren’t just setting your tongue on fire, they’re setting your body into motion. Keep reading about the following ways hot sauce can benefit your health:

Hot sauce can help you lose weight

Yep, ever heard of the hot sauce diet? Just kidding, but hot sauce can help you lose way in a few ways. For starters, capsaicin (which you’ll be reading a lot about in this article) can increase your metabolic rate which helps burn more calories efficiently. Capsaicin is found most peppers, ranging from your basic, milder red chili peppers to some of the highest ranking peppers on the Scoville scale.

In addition, hot sauce is a very low calorie way to spice up your meal, especially compared to salt or sugar. Lastly, the spicier your meal is, the slower you’ll eat which has been proven time and again to contribute to weight loss.

It contains all kinds of vitamins and minerals

Hot peppers such as habaneros, jalapeños, ghosts, and serranos come with concentrated dosages of essential antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, such vitamin A and vitamin C. The antioxidants in hot sauce can lower blood pressure, help to reduce inflammation and contain contain anti-aging properties. Vitamin C, as you may know, can help prevent colds and other chronic diseases, according to experts.

The right peppers clear you up

Ok, this one is no secret. Everyone knows that when you’re feeling stuffed up, a little spicy food can clear out the congestion. But why? Well… Hot sauce made with capsaicin-packed peppers, contains all-natural anti-flu and decongestant remedies.

Capsaicin combats cancer

A recent study of half a million Chinese adults found that “those who ate spicy foods three more times a week had a 14 percent reduced risk of death, compared to those who didn’t eat much spicy food.”  Turns out, by attacking cell mitochondria, the capsaicin in hot sauce can trigger the self-destruction of harmful cancer cells without hurting healthy cells.

Hot sauce can ease the pain

As previously mentioned, capsaicin contains anti-inflammatory properties which can alleviate muscle sprains and strains, headaches, and joint conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Hot sauce makes you happy

When you bite into something spicy, your body actually starts pumping out endorphins, serotonin, and other feel-good hormones to block the stinging heat. So next time you’re feeling down, soak your sandwich with the spiciest sauce in your pantry and see what happens. Sure, it may burn your tongue but at least it will lift your mood.

There you have it folks! Hot sauce is good for you and you heard it here first.

Of course, not all hot sauces are made equally. So, to ensure you get all the health benefits, you want to find sauces made with fresh, quality peppers that retain all the vital nutrients.

Fortunately, all of Small Axe Peppers hot sauces are made fresh, locally-grown habanero, jalapeño, serrano, or ghost peppers — all of which are excellent sources of capsaicin and other vitamins and minerals that’ll leave your tongue blazing and body healthy.