Beating the Heat

     I had long heard about a theory claiming that eating hot, spicy foods actually has a cooling effect on the body.  So I thought I'd explore that claim by actually cooking up some Ozark Outlaw Snakebite Chili from the Purely American company in Athens, Ohio.  They manufacture several regional foods and include in the kit a bit of history about each product they sell.  The rugged hills of the southwestern Ozarks, where the four states of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas meet, became the perfect hideout for several of America's most famous outlaws, like the James Boys, the Younger Brothers and the Daltons.  So it would seem appropriate to name a sinister chili after this part of our great land.

     In addition to the dried ingredients that came with the mix I added the recommended fresh components: cubed chuck roast, ground beef, onions, mushrooms, bell pepper and garlic.  After soaking the beans overnight I began to assemble the chili by cooking the dried beans for an hour in 6 cups of water and browning the meat.  Next I sauteed the veggies and the mushrooms then added the drained meat back to the pot and stirred in the blend of hot seasonings.  Finally, as the beans and meat mixture were combined I added some low sodium tomato juice, tomato paste and freshly chopped roma tomatoes.  It all simmered together for an hour and a half.

     And it does have a kick!  If the theory holds true I will need to dig out my thermals to keep warm.  Here's the science behind it.  According to clinical nutritionist, Diane Radler,  consuming hot and spicy foods increases circulation and perspiration.  Sweating releases heat and thus cools the body down as it evaporates on the surface of the skin.  But there are other beneficial effects.  Eating spicy food also stimulates saliva and gastric juice flow which can counteract a diminished appetite due to hot weather.  It also induces weight loss since capsaicin, the element in food that makes things hot (see VinnyPost Feb 7 "Fruits & Vegetables") requires the body to burn more calories to ingest it.  Spicy food can also boost the body's production of serotonin, a critical enzyme that improves attitude and mental outlook.  It also cranks up adrenaline which, in turn, helps to deter fatigue.  So enjoying hot food on a summer's day is beneficial on many different levels.

     The Living Green & Saving Energy web site offers tips for ways to stay cool without air conditioning.  Take a look at their website by clicking on to the highlighted title.  Then examine #5.  They recommend "Try some hot, spicy food."  So we can all live green by turning red!!!