Observing nearly half a million people in China, the BMJ study found that those who consumed spicy foods (mainly in a form of chili peppers) once or twice a week lowered their risk of death by 10 percent compared to those who consumed spicy food less than once a week. People who ate spicy food three to seven times a week reduced their death risk by almost 15 percent. According to research, people who consumed more spicy food were also at a lower risk of getting cancer and ischemic heart disease.