Consumption of hot red chili peppers linked to a 13% lower total mortality after adjusting for lifestyle factors.

The lifestyle factors included age, gender, education, ethnicity, marital status, employment, annual income, physical activity, and consumption of meats, vegetables and fruits.

Capsaicin (the active compound in chili peppers) activate a receptor called Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels and this has been shown to stimulate cellular mechanisms against obesity, by altering mediators of lipid catabolism and thermogenesis.