To Spice or Not to Spice: Can Chilli Improve Your Health

Take your spicy dishes to new heights at cooking classes in Melbourne! In these hands-on sessions, you'll learn how to master International cuisines and balance flavours for just the right amount of spice. In fact, a Melbourne cooking class makes for a wonderful experience gift for chilli-lovers!

Whether you crave the head-clearing effects of wasabi or the stinging burn of Thai chilli, there are a bunch of reasons to incorporate chilli into your meals besides the taste! So why do we really enjoy that hot feeling on our palate? Spicy food is more popular in warm regions and there’s a reason behind it. We are likely to sweat when eating this type of food and through perspiring, we maintain our body's heat balance which creates a cooling-off effect. We can also enjoy spicy food subconsciously because its benefits act as a pain killer, in other words, that characteristic burning effect of spicy food can help us ease pain. There are also some moderate health benefits to be gained from adding chilli to your food.

Not a fan of spicy food? That's the great thing about a cooking class! You have control over how much, if any, spice to add. Plus, if you have a loved one with you who likes chilli, you can each make a meal to suit your preferences.

Spice up your list of fun things to do in Melbourne in 2024 when you take a risk at Melbourne cooking classes. Develop your palate with hot new cuisines and dishes that you'll be eager to cook time and time again.

Are hot peppers bad for our health?

As with everything in our lives, the key is moderation. Health issues can come when consuming more than 50 grams of chillies per day regularly. It would also depend on the person’s health condition, weight and age; and is important to pay attention to the signs of your body as well. As we said before, everything is all about moderation and balance, besides most of us don't go with the extreme hot peppers varieties anyway. Your friendly teachers at Melbourne cooking classes will be sure to highlight the limits of spice too.

On the contrary, do spicy foods help prevent cognitive diseases?

Maintaining blood pressure is essential to keeping us sharp and helping us to age well. Multiple studies have shown that eating chillies and spicy food in proper amounts is good for weight control and blood pressure. This is thanks to the fact that capsaicin, the active component, activates a channel called vanilloid that is found in the lining of blood vessels. When activated nitric oxide is produced, this gaseous molecule helps with the proper functioning of the blood vessels and protects them against inflammation. Then, the consumption of spicy food along with keeping active and having a balanced diet will help us prevent suffering from cognitive diseases like memory loss and Alzheimers, the most common type of dementia.

The myths surrounding the consumption of chilli 

It can cause you an ulcer:

False. Ulcers are mainly caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacteria and anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, in some cases. Although spicy food could irritate your bowel, studies show that actually, capsaicin stimulates gastric mucosal blood flow, helping to heal and prevent stomach injuries and ulcers.

It kills your taste buds:

False. The effect that strong peppers produce is just temporary. The numb feeling your tongue experiences is a natural response of your body’s defence mechanism, just like when you touch something hot.

It helps you to lose weight:

True and false. Capsaicin increases metabolism temporarily helping to burn calories but in a small amount. 

It has antimicrobial effects:

True. Capsaicin has antimicrobial properties and this is the reason why peppers can work as food preservatives.

Eat chilli in moderation

The truth is, spices can improve and level up any dish, being even the signature of a lot of delicious cuisines around the world. Whether you would like to learn how to prepare aromatic Thai food, the famous fermented and spicy dishes from Korean cuisine or the traditional Sri Lankan curry, you can experiment with all the benefits and safely enjoy spicy food in moderation.

Experiment with spice at hands-on cooking classes in Melbourne

When we think about hot peppers, Mexican cuisine comes to mind. Did you know that there are over 150 chilli varieties in Mexico? We link chillies with that hot feeling, but some peppers are not even spicy at all and there are different heat levels. Beyond their heating level, chillies add flavour thanks to their sweet, smoky, fruity or earthy properties. A great way to discover the wide range of unique flavours this rich cuisine has to offer and how to master it is by taking an authentic Mexican cooking class in Melbourne.

Traditional Thai Cooking Class

Salty, sweet, tangy and sour flavours harmoniously combined for a feast that your taste buds will love! The challenge? Getting the right balance. Nail it at our fun and hands-on Thai cooking class. This class is held in a cosy and friendly setting by home-taught cooks who will share all their secrets, tricks and tips as if you were part of their family. Learn what makes this cuisine special and prepare traditional and family-style homemade Thai dishes. Savour a delicious meal and leave the workshop fully packed with all the recipes to keep your kitchen with irresistible aromas.

Chinese Cooking Class

Chinese dishes always deliver a complete flavour experience full of textures and fresh ingredients, accompanied with characteristic sauces and garnishes. This Chinese Cooking Class will take you on a culinary journey like no other. Prepare five traditional dishes along with an experienced chef from China, who will give demonstrations and share all his secrets with you in a fun and casual workshop. To finish, you will all sit together to enjoy a tasty Chinese meal, prepared by you, with a glass of sparkling wine. Enjoy a social and hands-on class and get access to all the recipes to keep savouring and mastering this cuisine at home.

Morroccan Cooking Class

The spices will be flowing at this Morrocan cooking class where you will learn all the secrets of this traditional cuisine. You will be preparing homemade flavoursome dishes that are as exotic as they are mouthwatering. An intimate and informal session full of aroma, laughter, new friends and family recipe secrets will be passed on to you. At the end, you will enjoy a well-deserved family-style feast cooked by you and you will leave with all the recipes to keep preparing these special dishes at home.

South Indian Cooking Class

When you think of Indian food, you likely think of an array of spice blends including chilli. While North Indian cuisine tends to lean towards more milder spices like masala, South Indian cuisine utilises the many spicy flavours prominent in their tropical culture. At this South Indian Cooking Class with Heavenly Morsel in Berwick, you will learn how to cook with spice and make dishes that range from spiced cabbage fry to king prawn and drumstick curry. The best part? It's hosted and taught by Melbourne's spice queen, Tanya Carneiro, who will help you to build confidence in the kitchen using an array of flavours and spices. It's simply a must do in Melbourne, perfect for unique team building activities for smaller companies or spicy date night ideas!

If you're on the hunt for the best Melbourne cooking classes and love to feel the heat, look no further than our range of culinary courses.

Want to learn more? Discover the therapeutic benefits of cooking here.

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11) uchicagomedicine.org