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The Top 10 Healthy Reasons to Eat Chili

The Top 10 Healthy Reasons to Eat Chili

Updated on March 17, 2016

You may think of chili as greasy and unhealthy but that just isn't true. Most of today's chili recipes are packed with nutrients that are good for you and chili can be part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

The next time you need a reason to make chili, just come back here and read these reasons again. Because yes, eating chili can be healthy for you. So why not go find your favorite recipe and make a big pot of homemade chili as soon as you can?

1. Protein

The meat in your chili is an excellent source of protein and if you make your chili with beans, you have a great second source of it too. Even if you make vegetarian chili with beans, it can be a great source of protein.

2. Fiber

You need fiber in your diet and the chilies, peppers, and beans in this dish are excellent sources of it. Fiber not only works to help keep you regular but it also slows the rate at which sugar is absorbed into your body.

If you're a diabetic, this will be really good for you because it keeps your blood glucose level from rising and falling too quickly.

3. Vitamin C

The peppers—even bell peppers—that go into chili are an excellent source of vitamin C and we all know that vitamin C is really good for your body.

The tomatoes and tomato paste that you use are also an excellent source of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to improve your body's immune system and can work to help keep you healthy.

4. Iron

The iron in the beans in your chili is really good for you. A lot of people don't get enough iron in their daily diet.

5. Capsicum

I bet you didn't know this, but a big bowl of chili can help you lose weight. Yes, you read that right.

The capsicum found in the chilies and the peppers used to season your chili will raise your body's metabolic rate thereby raising heat production. Even sweet red peppers can do this. So what are you waiting for, go grab another bowl of that delicious homemade chili.

6. Endorphins and Serotonin

I bet you didn't know that chili can make you happy, did you? Chilies can cause your body's endorphin and serotonin levels to go up, sometimes significantly.

The capsicum is the trigger. This can make your mood better, making you feel better all around.

7. Reduces Sugar and Fat Cravings

The capsicum in the peppers and chilies can also help to lower your cravings for fatty and sweet foods. So go ahead! Tonight, make that big pot of chili and have a bowl or two.

8. Immune System Boost

The chilies and peppers are filled with vitamin A and vitamin C, which can help boost the immune system.

Vitamin A is really good for you during the cold and flu season.

9. Regulate Blood Sugar

Chili can help to regulate your body's blood sugar after you eat it since chili peppers can lower your body's sugar levels and the amount of insulin your body needs.

10. Clears Congestion

The capsicum in chilies increases mucous production, which can help to clear congestion. So the next time you feel a cold coming on, make a big pot of chili and enjoy several bowls because guess what? Chili and the ingredients in it are healthy for you.


632 comments

  • On my way to get some chili right now.

    Caesar Purnell
  • Great stuff,keep it coming

    Caesar Purnell
  • I didn’t, know a lot of this information until I read this

    Caesar Purnell
  • Fantastic stuff I could live on i

    Michael Mcdonagh
  • Very informative! Been a kidney patient for almost 2 years and I finally found a great way to check what I can eat and what is bad for me! Great help with your article! Feeling great since I got on board! Thank you, I was making some bad choices, This has saved me from despair and a bad end! Thank you! Instead of sending me to a dietician he wanted me to go to a dialysis class! I’m this way because of medically induced congestive heart flavor, kidney and renal favor, when I had been a very active A personality and was 75 when I collapsed! Had not had a cold since 1967, had the flu once in 1971 , took the vac once and had a terrible reaction so never took it since 1987!
    This past three years have been a nightmare! Got out of the hospital, they sent me to pain management, said it was my back, had a collapsed hip for over 9 months! Lived through a total hip replacement but since my heart and kidney they had tried to find out why my pulse was 30-34! My heart specialist transferred to Southern Illinois, and nothing was followed so this past June I was a zombie, they sent me to a pacemaker specialist and I had a pacemaker implanted within a week! My mind is back to the old me, but my body is a train wreck! Thank God for your information or I would have enddd up in dyslisis! Get a feeling the elderly are considered expandable! Thank you again!

    Rose G. Adrian

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