Chilli an aid in fighting cancer
Claims that capsaicin, the hot element in the chili pepper, can kill off pancreatic and prostate cancer cells have been given a cautious welcome by Cancer Research UK.
Research by teams at the Universities of California and Pittsburgh suggests that capsaicin attacks certain cancerous cells, either burning them or slowing their development.
However, spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK, Kat Arney says on the charity's website:
"Although these experiments suggest that pepper extracts can help treat cancer in animals, much more work needs to be done before capsaicin can be used as a treatment for humans with prostate cancer."
Arney warns against viewing chili peppers as a 'superfood'.
"This research does not suggest that eating vast quantities can prevent or treat prostate cancer," she says, adding: "In fact, eating too many hot chillies can lead to stomach cancer."