Does eating spicy food help you lose weight? Eating too much spicy hotpot can cause your blood pressure to get out of control? Doctors reveal: "Eating spicy food" and "eating spicy hot pot" are two different things

This Thursday (7th) is the beginning of winter among the 24 solar terms! As the weather gradually turns cooler, it’s time to nourish your body in winter. Hot pot, ginger duck, mutton hotpot and other hot pots are on the tonic menu for many people. However, in the clinic of Dr. Chen Weilong, an internal medicine specialist and weight loss specialist at the Chu Ri Clinic, there was a female patient who had lost nearly 8 kilograms in two months. However, when she returned for a follow-up visit, it was found that her blood pressure was higher than before and she also had mild lower limb edema. After further investigation, it was found that she often had spicy hot pot for dinner and consumed too much hot pot soup base, resulting in excessive sodium intake.

The 60-year-old female patient already suffered from high blood pressure and had a BMI of 34, which was considered moderately obese. She was worried that her health problems would become a burden to her family and that she would not be able to enjoy her retirement life. In particular, she saw Dr. Chen Weilong mention on Facebook that "no matter how much wealth you have, once you remove the 1, the remaining zeros are meaningless." She was deeply touched and decided to seek professional help.

Dr. Chen Weilong suggested that she lose weight first. According to clinical experience, a weight loss of 8% to 10% can significantly improve metabolic syndrome such as blood pressure, blood sugar, triglycerides, and waist circumference. The patient then adjusted his eating habits and followed the eating order of "water, meat, vegetables, rice, and fruit". He also went for a walk in the nearby playground after every meal. Within two months, she successfully lost weight from 80 kg to 72 kg.

Although she had lost weight, her blood pressure had continued to rise recently, even reaching as high as 160/90 mmHg. After detailed questioning, it was learned that she had seen information on the Internet that "eating spicy food can help lose weight", and as the weather turned cold, she often had spicy hot pot for dinner, which led to excessive sodium intake and out-of-control blood pressure.

Dr. Chen Weilong explained that although capsaicin can promote metabolism, "eating spicy food" and "eating spicy hot pot" are two different things. The spicy hot pot soup base contains a lot of oil and seasonings, and the sodium content of 600ml of soup base is as high as nearly 5000 mg, which is far more than twice the daily intake of 2400 mg recommended by the National Health Administration. Excessive sodium intake will disrupt the balance of sodium and water in the body, increase the burden on the heart and blood vessels, and lead to risks of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, etc.

Dr. Chen Weilong also specifically reminded that whether you are a patient with hypertension or people who are losing weight, when nourishing your body during the Beginning of Winter, you can try to choose vegetable soup bases, and for hot pot ingredients, you should choose high-quality protein and original foods, and avoid processed foods for hot pot ingredients.

Dr. Chen Wei-Long also specifically reminded that if people who are losing weight are obese due to hormonal problems, they need to pay special attention to the interaction between food ingredients and hormonal drugs when taking supplements. He also stressed that whether it is patients with hypertension or people who are losing weight, when nourishing the body during the beginning of winter, they can try to choose vegetable soup bases, and for hot pot ingredients, they should choose high-quality protein and original foods, and avoid processed foods in hot pot ingredients.

Dr. Chen Weilong added that the sense of ritual of festivals is inevitable, and tonic food during the beginning of winter should still follow the principles of low fat, low salt, and low added sugar, and try to maintain a balance of the three major nutrients under the 2:1:1 (2 servings of vegetables, 1 serving of starch, and 1 serving of protein) plate principle. If it is difficult to control the intake of tonic ingredients and seasonings, avoid taking them 4 hours before going to bed, or exercise after taking them to reduce blood sugar fluctuations and avoid fat accumulation.

If you master the correct eating habits, you don’t have to worry about delicious food becoming a burden. You can also eat healthily and lose weight healthily by taking supplements in winter.