Every so often, we tend to crave something extremely spicy. However, not all of us give in to this craving because we don’t want to get sick. We’ve all heard of the health benefits of green tea and fruit snacks, but what if we tell you that spicy snacks can also be healthy and you no longer have to abstain from them? This article addresses your concerns about spicy snacks and why they’re actually healthy for you. So, try these delicious, healthy spicy snacks today and satisfy that craving!
Why Choose Spices? 5 Benefits of Healthy Spicy Snacks
We’ve all heard that spices are one of the top foods bad for digestion. Although it is true if you eat spicy food excessively, it is not if you consume spices in moderation. The same is the case with every kind of food out there. When consumed in moderation, there are numerous benefits of spicy food. This is not just an assumption, but a fact backed up by scientific research and studies. Let’s take a look at them!
1. It has Anti-inflammatory Properties
According to research, spices play an important role in fighting inflammation. This is not just limited to spices from chillies but also spice found in turmeric and ginger. Concisely, all kinds of spices help fight inflammation in your body. This anti-inflammatory property improves your body health.
2. Spices Boost your Immunity
Studies show that the spices present in cumin and turmeric have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In other words, the spice can kill bacteria and other harmful microbes in your body. As a result, this boosts your immune system and help you fight various kinds of infections and diseases, especially in the winter season when flu and the common cold are rampant. So, eating healthy Spicy Snacks in the cold will not only warm you up but also strengthen your body against the seasonal cold!
3. Healthy Spicy Snacks can Prolong your Lifespan
Research conducted on the effects of eating spicy food regularly showed the following results. According to this, men and women who ate spicy food at least six to seven times a week showed a 14% risk reduction in mortality. In simple words, incorporating healthy spicy snacks with nutrition into your daily diet can increase your lifespan.
4. It Improves your Heart Health
Another study concluded that consuming various kinds of spices can improve your heart health and blood vessels. Capsaicinoids, the compound responsible for spices’ heat and hotness quality, can increase your blood flow, consequently leading to improved blood and oxygen circulation throughout the body.
5. Spicy Foods can play a role in Weight Loss
Another important quality of healthy spicy food is that it can help you lose weight. According to research, red peppers reduce appetite. If you feel less hungry after eating some healthy Spicy Snacks, it is understandable that you’d eat less at mealtimes. This can play a crucial role if you want to lose weight. It can help you stick to a diet and specific meal portions. Therefore, add spices to your list of superfoods to lose weight right now!
8 Delicious Healthy Spicy Snacks That You Won’t Be Able to Keep Your Hands Off!
So, if we’ve convinced you that eating spicy food is actually beneficial for you, then let’s dig in! Check out these extremely easy recipes for spicy foods and snacks to try this winter!
1. Wasabi Peas
This is probably the best healthy spicy snack on any list you’ll ever encounter. And rightfully so! Wasabi is a naturally spicy food that has its own distinct taste and texture. It is usually found in oriental cuisines. You might’ve eaten it at your local sushi restaurant to spice things up or clean your palette.
Why it’s Healthy
Wasabi peas are a combination of wasabi and green peas. Naturally, it is a food source of fibre and proteins. Plus, wasabi is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help you when you’re sick.
Quick Recipe
Take some green peas. It doesn’t matter if they’re fresh or frozen. Roast them in a microwave oven after washing and drying. Add some sugar, salt and oil to the peas. Now, coat them in starch and wasabi paste. Try to do this while the peas are still hot in order to make the wasabi stick to them better, and you are done!
2. Paprika Kale Chips
Kale is one of the best fiber rich foods available to us. Like every leafy green veggie, it is incredibly healthy for our bodies. This delicious recipe of paprika Kale Chips combines the healthiness of a lush green vegetable with the irresistible scrumptious delight of chips!
Why it’s Healthy
Kale contains a good amount of fiber and vitamin K, vitamin A, and vitamin C. It also has antioxidant properties that boost your immunity.
Quick Recipe
Firstly, wash and dry some fresh kale leaves. Then, make a mixture of olive oil, paprika powder, cumin, onion powder and salt. Spread this paste onto the leaves, making sure to coat them thoroughly. Finally, spread the coated leaves on a baking tray and bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Your crispy and spicy paprika Kale chips are ready!
3. Sweet and Spicy Pecans
Pecans are nuts, which are an essential part of a balanced diet. Although nuts are tasty as it is, you can up their flavour with this easy sweet and spicy pecan recipe.
Why it’s Healthy
Pecans, just like other nuts, make for a highly healthy snack option. They contain a lot of calcium, magnesium and potassium, which is responsible for lowering blood pressure. Moreover, pecans contain mono-saturated fats, which decrease bad cholesterol (LDL) in our bloodstream.
Quick Recipe
Toss some good quality raw pecans with cayenne pepper, salt and dried rosemary. Add some maple syrup to the mix to make the spices stick to the nuts. Spread them on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes. Ensure that you keep stirring the pecans every 5 minutes to prevent burning.
Pro Tip! Keep the roasted sweet and spicy pecans in the refrigerator to keep the crispiness!
4. Avocado with Hot Sauce
Avocados are all the rage! And no, we’re still not over this trend. Not only are avocados trendy, but they’re also very beneficial and healthy for our bodies. Check out this spicy avocado snack recipe that takes only minutes to prepare!
Why it’s Healthy
Avocados are rich in vitamin K, C, E and B6. Moreover, it contains a good amount of riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, folate and omega 3-fatty acids. All these play an important role in maintaining your heart health.
Quick Recipe
Simply take fresh avocado and slice it up, place it in a dish. Put some lemon juice and kosher salt on it. Now, add some authentic quality hot sauce on the top, depending on your spice tolerance. That’s it. Enjoy your spicy avocado! This can be eaten as one of your healthy spicy snacks or added to a salad for meals.
5. Spicy Edamame
Edamame belongs to the green pea family. They are more common in Japanese cuisine. Undoubtedly, they are incredibly healthy and can be enjoyed in various ways.
Why it’s Healthy
Edamame is very nutritious and contains high-quality proteins and fiber.
Quick Recipe
First, purchase some pre cooked edamame beans, or you can get uncooked ones and steam them. Second, make a paste using four cloves of garlic, 1 tbsp chilli paste of your choosing, 1 tbsp mayonnaise and 2 tsp soy sauce. Now, add some sea salt flakes to this paste to taste. Coat the steamed edamame in this paste. Lastly, fry some sesame oil in a pan, and add the steamed plus coated edamame beans to the pan. Fry for some minutes until fragrant. Serve with sea salt flakes.
6. Jalapeno Cheddar Popcorns
Popcorn is one of the most popular and irresistible snacks ever. Turn this into a healthy spicy Snack with this quick recipe!
Why it’s Healthy
The popcorn kernels can provide you with some proteins and fibers. Jalapeno comes with its own anti-inflammatory properties.
Quick Recipe
For this recipe, you’ll need at least half a cup of popcorn kernels, 3 tbsp. Canola oil, 3 tbsp. Butter and ¼ cup cheddar cheese powder and jalapeno powder. To prepare, simply pop the kernels and toss with all the ingredients listed above while they’re still hot. Additionally, you can garnish with Jalapeno pickles for extra spice.
7. Chickpea Croutons
Chickpeas are another superfood, especially when it comes to losing weight and diabetes. Not to mention, there are hundreds of different ways to enjoy them, and all are delicious!
Why it’s Healthy
Chickpeas contain loads of Vitamin B, fiber and minerals like Magnesium.
Quick Recipe
To make chickpea Croutons, simply toss a can of cooked chickpeas with 2 tbsp olive oil, cayenne, cumin and chilli powder. Adjust the spices according to your preference. Plus, add some salt and pepper to taste. Roast these fully coated chickpeas on a baking tray for half an hour at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. Spicy Sweet Potato Chips
The health benefits of sweet potatoes are innumerable. Still, people might not enjoy eating them because they don’t know any good recipes. We remedy that with this extra easy sweet potato chips recipe that will stand out among all your healthy spicy snacks!
Why it’s Healthy
Sweet Potatoes are an excellent source of Vitamin A, B6 and C. Moreover, it contains potassium and fiber as well, which aid in reducing appetite and making you feel full for longer.
Quick Recipe
Firstly, thinly slice some sweet potatoes after washing and peeling them. Now, toss them with some olive oil, red chilli flakes and salt and pepper. Bake the chips for 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping every ten minutes or so. Serve once they’re cool with some jalapeno bits on top.
Take Precautions While Eating Spicy Food!
Before you start binge eating spicy snacks, a word of caution: Spicy snacks indeed have a lot of health benefits, but it is only applicable if you eat them in moderation. Excess of everything is bad, and this couldn’t be more true. The same is the case with spices. They will improve your overall health if you consume them carefully. Most of all, know your tolerance level! Not everyone has the same spice tolerance. That’s why try to stick to your limits and avoid overeating spicy snacks! It has consequences. In the worst case, you can feel extreme stomach pain and vomiting. Diarrhoea is also common after consuming spicy food, even if it’s healthy. Therefore, enjoy healthy Spicy Snacks in the best possible way – in moderation!
Conclusion
To sum up, spicy snacks are not only delicious but also healthy. There’s no way you cannot have. With our easy to make healthy spicy snack recipes, you can curb your cravings while staying healthy! So, let us know what you think if you try any of these recipes!
Also Read: We all like snacking, especially while watching TV or movies and if you have diabetes, try these snacks for diabetics that are healthy and not boring!
