Recently, it was reported that researchers from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom found that eating chili peppers can reduce the risk of digestive tract cancer. A gastroenterology research team from the University of Toronto in Canada found that capsaicin can inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori, and regular consumption of peppers can prevent a variety of gastric cancers.
Image source: Visual China
Is it true?
“The factors that affect gastric cancer are very complicated. Eating chili to prevent gastric cancer has not been proven medically.” Zhao Haiying, Chief Physician of the Digestive Branch Center of Beijing Friendship Hospital, said, “Medicine pays attention to Evidence-based medicine, treatment should follow accepted guidelines. To meet the standards of evidence-based medicine, the research on capsaicin inhibiting Helicobacter pylori needs longer time and larger sample size to verify.”
Zhao Haiying gave an example Dao: “Previously, there are also studies suggesting that green tea can reduce the risk of gastric or colorectal cancer, but it has not been recognized in the end. Because it is necessary to understand the pharmacology, toxicological effects and potential efficacy of a component, and then change from component to component. It is a long process to make it into a clinically applicable dosage form. It is not possible to blindly consume chili peppers to inhibit Helicobacter pylori based on preliminary research results.”
In addition, even if capsaicin can really inhibit Helicobacter pylori, it cannot be used in chili peppers. Equate between being vegetarian and eating chili. Zhao Haiying said, “Just like artemisinin is not Artemisia annua, fenugreek is not fenugreek, and capsaicin is not chili pepper. Capsaicin is just a chemical in chili peppers. And chili peppers are a plant. , the composition is very complex. In medicine, the active ingredient can only work if it reaches an effective concentration. In life, how many peppers can you eat to achieve an effective concentration to inhibit Helicobacter pylori? This is not clear.”
Zhao Haiying does not recommend to suppress Helicobacter pylori infection by eating more chili peppers. “One is that each person’s tolerance to capsaicin is different, and the other is that eating capsaicin and ingesting capsaicin will cause burning discomfort in the oral mucosa or digestive tract mucosa. If the Helicobacter pylori infection has developed digestive tract Ulcer, gastritis and other problems, eating chili will only bring more stimulation to the injured digestive mucosa, which is more detrimental to the repair of the digestive mucosa.”
Zhao Haiying suggested that people with Helicobacter pylori infection should prepare meals , Disinfect tableware regularly. To eradicate Helicobacter pylori, scientific treatment methods, such as the classic “quadruple therapy”, are still needed. If you have a disease closely related to Helicobacter pylori infection, it is recommended to carry out related tests. In daily life, in order to protect the digestive tract, Zhao Haiying recommends smoking less, drinking less alcohol, and eating less smoked, pickled food and overnight dishes.
Zhao Haiying emphasized that it is a good thing to intervene in diseases by changing the diet structure, but don’t have the mentality of “small remedies cure serious diseases”. Because the pathogenesis of many diseases is unclear, it cannot be cured by eating less or more of a certain food. If you are sick, you still need to go to a regular hospital for expert advice and scientific treatment according to authoritative treatment guidelines. “For some new research results, the media should not make one-sided reports to cause misunderstandings, and the public must have a certain ability to discriminate.” Zhao Haiying added.