Chili pepper (Capsicum annum) is a popular spice in many parts of the world and is known for its hot, spicy taste. There are many types of c...
Chili pepper (Capsicum annum) is a popular spice in many parts of the world and is known for its hot, spicy taste. There are many types of chili peppers, such as red pepper and jalapeno. Chili peppers are mainly used as a spice and can be cooked, dried, or powdered. Capsaicin is the main bioactive plant compound in chili peppers, responsible for their unique, sharp taste and their many health benefits.
Here are the top 15 benefits of chili peppers.
1. Improves Digestive Health and Metabolism
One of the biggest benefits of capsaicin is that it helps with bowel health and weight loss. Contrary to popular belief, chili peppers may actually be an anti-inflammatory for your stomach and a great way to treat stomach ulcers. Chili peppers, especially in their powder form, are rich in antioxidants and other compounds that relieve other digestive problems such as stomach upset, gas in the intestines, diarrhea, and pain. Chili peppers are able to accomplish this because they stimulate gastric juice and work against acidity in your digestion.
Chili peppers can boost your metabolism. If your metabolic rate is higher, you can control your cravings and improve the rate at which you burn fat. In general, it is believed that the use of chili peppers along with other healthy lifestyle methods can improve weight loss.
2. May Reduce the Risks of Cancer
Chili peppers also provide a potential natural cure for cancer. According to the research of the American Association for Cancer Research, the capsaicin and antioxidants found in chili pepper can kill cancer cells. This is mainly due to the high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of pepper.
For example, in the case of prostate cancer, capsaicin slows the growth of prostate cancer cells by stimulating the reduction of the basic types of cancer cell lines. Similar effects are found in breast, pancreatic, and bladder cancers.
3. Fights fungal infections, colds, and flu
The red color of chili pepper shows that it is rich in beta-carotene, or pro-vitamin A. Vitamin A is key to maintaining a healthy breathing, intestinal, and urinary system. In addition, vitamin A and vitamin C in peppers are important in boosting your immunity against infections and diseases.
If you suffer from congestion or allergies, capsaicin nasal spray can help relieve your symptoms. In addition, capsaicin has a number of antibacterial properties that can fight chronic bone infections.
If you have a high fever, hot chili peppers can not only relieve the pain but also stimulate the immune system to fight the virus. Chili pepper can also be used for its antifungal properties. In particular, it can kill food pathogens and bacteria, such as H. pylori, and treat a number of inflammatory bowel diseases.
4. Provides Joint Pain Relief
In addition to being a natural source of pain for headaches and migraines, chili pepper can be used to reduce joint pain. Basically, you can apply peppermint to the skin to reduce the presence of the chemical P. Chemical P is a compound responsible for transmitting pain messages to the brain. Capsaicin binds to pain receptors and produces a burning sensation that can make your pain receptors insensitive over time. Thus, capsaicin acts as a pain reliever. In general, it can be used to treat shingles, joint pain, and HIV neuropathy.
5. Fights Inflammation
Another valuable benefit of capsaicin is that it inhibits the substance P, a neuropeptide that is responsible for the inflammatory process. Thus, capsaicin is considered a potential treatment for many sensory neurological disorders, such as arthritis pain, diabetic neuropathy, and psoriasis.
An animal study found that animals that were treated with a substance that causes arthritis responded better to high doses of capsaicin. Due to the diet, the animals experienced a significant reduction in the development of arthritis and delayed inflammation in their bodies.
6. Supports heart health
Chili pepper can also be a great, natural way to support your cardiovascular system and prevent heart disease. Chili pepper is high in potassium, which is a mineral with many functions in the human body. Potassium combined with folate can lower your chances of heart disease. In addition, potassium can help relax your blood vessels, making blood flow to your body much easier.
Chili pepper also contains riboflavin and niacin. The latter is responsible for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and, consequently, reducing the risk of heart disease. Chili peppers can also protect the fat in your blood from free radicals. For example, a study found that eating fresh peppers increases resistance to oxidation of fat in the blood, which causes free radical damage to your triglycerides and cholesterol levels.
7. Decrease the Risks of Type 2 Diabetes
In addition to maintaining your heart health, chili peppers may reduce your risk of developing high levels of insulin, a common symptom of type 2 diabetes. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a number of Australian scientists have discovered that a diet rich in chili peppers can provide the right amount of insulin to lower blood sugar levels. This is especially true for those who have a high BMI or are obese. Keep in mind that chili peppers are high in antioxidants, carotenoids, and vitamin C. They also play a significant role in the regulation of insulin.
8. Can improve cognitive functions
Sufficient amounts of oxygen and iron are required to maintain strong cognitive performance. Fortunately, chili peppers are rich in iron. This increases the blood flow to your brain and the production of hemoglobin. In turn, chili peppers can help boost your cognitive performance. In addition, they can reduce your chances of developing cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's.
9. Can Improve longevity
Research by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences has shown that people who eat spicy foods are more likely to live longer. In other words, common spices have the potential to increase a person's chances of living a longer and healthier life.
Over a seven-year period, researchers found that people who ate spicy food three to seven times a week were less likely to develop cancer, heart disease, and respiratory diseases. Capsaicin may be credited with reducing inflammation, clearing the airways, and reducing the development of lifelong diseases as a whole.
10. Promotes the growth of red blood cells
In addition to maintaining heart health, chili peppers can also help form new blood cells. This is due to the fact that chili peppers are rich in copper and iron. In this way, they are able to treat the symptoms of anemia and fatigue. In addition, chili peppers contain folic acid, which is key to fighting anemia and producing healthy red blood cells. This is especially important for pregnant women, as folic acid deficiency can cause birth defects in newborns.
11. Improve eye health
As we mentioned earlier, vitamin A in chili peppers is important for building a strong immune system. However, it is also important to keep your eyes healthy and strong. Vitamin A is known to avoid night blindness and eye degeneration. One tablespoon of chili pepper in your diet contains 9% of your daily recommended vitamin A requirement.
12. Keeps your hair and skin healthy
Vitamin C in pepper not only strengthens your immune system, It also builds and maintains collagen, a key protein found in healthy hair and skin. In particular, red pepper is an excellent natural ingredient that can add some spice to beauty routines.
Red pepper can be mixed in a face mask to treat skin inflammation. It is also a beneficial treatment for wrinkles, acne scars, and dark spots. Red pepper is able to do this because it basically speeds up the blood flow, which leads to flawless skin. Red pepper mixed with olive oil can also make an excellent hair mask to bring some shine to your hair.
13. Relieves migraines
Capsaicin derived from chili pepper has also been shown to be effective in treating headaches and migraines. According to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Philadelphia, 18 patients diagnosed with headaches were treated with intranasal capsaicin.
As a result, 13 patients received complete relief. The majority of other patients experienced some relief, and only one patient received no relief. Researchers have found that capsaicin neutralizes the trigeminal nerve and lowers calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), both of which are responsible for migraine pain.
14. Extend your life
A large study found that adults who ate at least one fresh or dried hot red chili pepper a month for about 20 years had a 13% lower chance of death. Researchers aren't sure why, but they think some of the credit goes to pepper's nutrients and its ability to fight inflammation and obesity.
15. Keep food safe
Hot peppers are natural antimicrobials. This means they kill germs and other microorganisms that can spoil canned or packaged food. Manufacturers are testing to see if peppermint extract is a better choice than synthetic preservatives.
Conclusion
Chillie peppers are rich in various compounds of vitamins, minerals, and plants that can potentially lead to many health benefits, including weight loss, pain relief, improved heart health, and a lower risk of ulcers. It is important to pay attention to your endurance level when eating chili peppers. They may be healthy to use as a spice, but people who have indigestion should avoid them.
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