We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Can Hot Peppers Cure Prostate Cancer?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,684
Share

Every year, over 200,000 men in the world lose their battle with prostate cancer, and more are diagnosed with the disease every year. Naturally, we look for anything promising that might cure prostate cancer or prevent it, and in 2006 a few studies on the benefit of the chemical capsaicin, which is found in hot red peppers, suggest we may have found a way to treat more people with prostate cancer and benign prostate enlargement.

According to a joint US/Japan study in mice, mice that had prostate tumors and receive high doses of capsaicin, had about an 80% rate of cell death or apoptosis of tumor tissue. Though researchers note that induced human cancers in mice are easier to treat, this is still a fairly noteworthy result. You can see from the study that capsaicin does not totally cure prostate cancer, but its use may be indicated to prevent tumor growth and as an auxiliary treatment for men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. It also appears that some men are aided by the anti-inflammatory properties of capsaicin, which might minimize discomfort and reduce growth of the prostate.

There is also some suggestion based on statistical evidence that hot peppers, though they may not cure prostate cancer completely, may prevent it. Men who live in countries where hot peppers are routinely consumed in foods tend to have a lower incidence of prostate cancer. This may indicate that while you can’t cure prostate cancer, you might want to add some spice to your meals in the form of hot peppers.

Of course, not everyone likes hot peppers. Some find them difficult on the digestion, and others find them uncomfortable to eat. Given the 2006 study, there has been an upsurge in a variety of capsaicin products on the market, including nasal sprays and supplement pills. These may be marketed as prostate health formulas, but men diagnosed with prostate cancer should not view them as a means to cure prostate cancer alone. Remember that in mice, they did not wholly resolve cancer and that mice are easier to treat. It’s still important to get traditional medical help for your condition.

Yet it’s certainly the case that capsaicin powder or some form of capsaicin may help reduce risk, and might be indicated as an additional treatment if you are tackling this form of cancer. Talk to your doctor about the benefits of capsaicin supplementation. If you are cancer free, you might want to discuss with your physician how you might increase your chances of remaining so through eating peppers or taking a capsaicin supplement.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Talentryto — On Jun 13, 2014

@rundocuri- Your post is totally true. Men who are interested in taking hot pepper supplements should do so as an added boost to other types of cancer treatments.

By Rundocuri — On Jun 12, 2014

This is an interesting article about a supplement that may potentially have a lot of benefits. But not man should ever use it thinking that it is a treatment of cancer.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/can-hot-peppers-cure-prostate-cancer.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.