Can Spicy Food Help You Live Longer?
take something with a grain of salt: to not completely believe something because it might not be true or accurate
A study in China says that eating spicy food can help people live longer. Researchers looked at the diets of nearly 500,000 people over seven years. They discovered that people who ate spicy food one or two days a week had a 10% lower risk of death. Those who ate spicy food three to seven days a week had a 14% lower risk. Chili peppers have many health benefits. These include reducing inflammation and helping with weight loss. The researchers found that fresh chili peppers were associated with lower risks of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
While the study suggests spicy food can extend life, some experts advise taking this research with a grain of salt. Kevin McConway from the Open University said the results might be different for people in other countries. He also noted that people who eat spicy food in China often do not drink alcohol.
Sample sentences
1. The advertisement said the product could make you look younger, but I took it with a grain of salt.
2. When reading news on social media, it’s good to take it with a grain of salt.
3. The online reviews for the new restaurant were amazing, but I took them with a grain of salt since some might be fake.
Origin
Some people believe this expression comes from a long time ago, in 77 A.D., with the Roman author Pliny the Elder. He used the phrase when talking about a remedy for poison, saying to take the antidote with a grain of salt. Just as a grain of salt was added to make the remedy work better, this expression suggests that we should add a grain of doubt when hearing something that might not be completely true.