Hot pepper owes its taste to a special ingredient called capsaicin.
The more capsaicin it contains, the hotter the pepper is.
However, larger amounts of capsaicin can sting your lips, tongue, and throat and even make you cry.
Why is chili healthy?
Capsaicin doesn’t only give pepper its hot taste, but also some medicinal properties that make it one of the healthiest foods in the world.
Chili Peppers:
- Releive inflammation.
Thanks to capsaicin, chili has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Capsaicin efficiently blocks substance P, associated with inflammatory processes in the body. Regular intake of chilli can be an excellent prevention against arthritis.
- Relieve pain.
According to new research, chili can effectively reduce pain caused by arthritis, psoriasis and diabetic neuropathy.
- Improve cardiovascular health.
It has been shown that hot peppers reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels and prevent blood clots. Cultures that use chili abundantly have much lower rates of heart disease, stroke and thrombosis.
- Improve digestion.
According to Ayurveda, hot taste stimulates appetite and improves digestion. Food that is well digested gives the body the necessary nutrients and energy, and food that is not digested produces toxins. Therefore, according to Ayurveda, digestion is the key to our health.
- Boost immunity.
The bright red color of chili peppers comes from the high content of beta-carotene, or pro-vitamin A. Just a few teaspoons of chili a day can give your body an extra dose of vitamin C and A, which are essential in the prevention of infections.
- Prevent prostate cancer.
Research on prostate cancer has shown that capsaicin can effectively kill cancer cells. Following a four-week therapy, capsaicin stopped the growth of prostate cancer cells, and tumors were significantly reduced in the majority of lab animals. It’s recommended to take 400mg of capsaicin three times a week to prevent prostate cancer.
- Encourage weight loss.
The hot flavor of chili peppers increases thermogenesis – the process of heat creation in the body. The process of thermogenesis burns additional calories, which results in weight loss.
- Prevent stomach ulcers.
For a long time there’s been a common misconception that spicy foods cause stomach ulcers. Today it’s been confirmed that hot peppers don’t cause ulcers, but prevent them because they kill harmful bacteria and stimulate the secretion of protective stomach juices.
- Help with type 2 diabetes.
Regular intake of chilli can prevent diabetes type 2. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that regular intake of chilli reduces the body’s need for insulin secretion thus reducing blood sugar levels after meals.
