HEAT: Bringing the Add Some Spice to Your Menu

By Mike Fernandez

Capsaicin (kap-say-sn) is the active component of chili peppers that gives your palette a spicy response. As you can imagine, plants create it as a poison to ward off certain animals.

The origins of early hot sauce date back to around 7000 BC when Aztecs would combine chili peppers with water and use it for everything from cooking to warfare to medicine.

THE FIERY FACTS:

There’s no doubting the popularity of spicy food, but let’s take a look at the blazing hot numbers. An Instacart survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults found that 74% of Americans eat hot sauce with their food, and over 45% said they typically dash hot sauce on their food once a week or more. Keep in mind, those diners are likely already ordering spicy foods that don’t need any more kick.

Today, a whopping 95% of global consumers enjoy hot and spicy food at a heat level of mild or above. So how can the love of the heat keep growing? Fans just go hotter! 60% of consumers note they are eating spicier foods than just a year ago, and 47% upped the heat in 2019.

In many countries, food being spicy is less of an option and more of a cultural necessity. That doesn’t mean every dish is drenched in bright red hot sauce, just that they include spicier seasonings in their recipes. Common seasonings are fresh cayenne, turmeric, crushed red pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and curry. If a dish is lacking heat, it’s missing out on an entire dimension of flavor!

BLAZING HEALTH BENEFITS https://www.hellahealth.com/blog/wellness/spicy-foodshealth-benefits/

Not only are spicy foods dangerously delicious, they’re also critical to leading a healthier lifestyle. There’s no need to dive into a pool of Sriracha, but adding some heat to your diet with fresh ingredients can provide a multitude of health benefits.

Research suggests that capsaicin (hot peppers) can help with weight loss and improve cardiovascular health. Digesting capsaicin increases your body heat, increasing metabolism up to 5%, which in turn increases fat burning by 16%.

Turmeric, the signature yellow spice of Indian dishes and curries, has shown incredible results in a myriad of studies. The main active component of turmeric is curcumin, which studies show can help prevent cancer and decrease inflammation in the body.

Engaging in more spicy options might not completely solve existing health issues, but the benefits to your body over a lifetime shouldn’t be ignored!

WHAT’S YOUR SECRET SAUCE?

Does your center have a spicy secret sauce? All the big guys are doin’ it! KFC, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, In-N-Out, and Shake Shack; in fact, there are very few chains that don’t offer one.

A spicy special sauce unique to your center is affordable, defines your uniqueness from competitors, and can easily be made in bulk batches.

Try making your own hot sauce! The ingredients are simple, though it is a journey of trial and error. All you need is a food processor, some different chili peppers, vinegar, and any herbs/seasonings like garlic. Run it through cheesecloth after to get all the seeds out.

Many people love the flavors that hot sauce brings in, even if they have trouble taking the heat. The popularity of many