For many people, a meal isn’t complete with a quick dash of hot sauce or a scattering of chilli flakes.
But a new study may make you think twice about adding that extra kick to your meal.
Researchers from the University of South Australia and Qatar University have found that people who eat spicy food every day are at a higher risk of developing dementia .
In the study, the researchers studied 4,582 adults aged over 55, over 15 years, looking at their diet as well as their memory.
Worryingly, the results revealed that participants who ate more than 50g of chili a day had almost double the risk of memory decline and poor cognition.
The results also revealed that this memory decline was even more significant if the chili lovers were slim.
Dr Zumin Shi, who led the study, said: “Chili consumption was found to be beneficial for body weight and blood pressure in our previous studies. However, in this study, we found adverse effects on cognition among older adults.”
An analysis of the participants’ diets revealed that both fresh and dried chili peppers had an impact on memory, but not sweet capsicum or black pepper.
Dr Ming Li, co-author of the study, said: “Chili is one of the most commonly used spices in the world and particularly popular in Asia compared to European countries.
“In certain regions of China, such as Sichuan and Hunan, almost one in three adults consume spicy food every day.”
While previous studies have shown that chili speeds up metabolism and fat loss, this is the first time the ingredient has been linked to cognitive function.
However, the reason for the link remains unclear, and further studies are needed to explain the association.
