Health Benefits of Hot, Spicy and Mild Peppers

January 11, 2014
DUNIA Contributor
Posted in Home and Wellbeing

Peppers come in various forms and colors with different benefits. They are popular for a wide range of reasons in different cultures, constituting an integral part of our cuisines.

Hot peppers. The following notes are excepts from WebMd: Peppers and Your Health

Capsaicin is the antioxidant that gives spicy peppers their zing. Capsaicin is a flavorless, odorless, colorless compound found in varying amounts in peppers. Fiery habaneros contain the most. Jalapeños have some. Bell peppers have none. “The more capsaicin, the hotter the pepper, and the higher the antioxidant level. Red chilies are usually hotter, but even the green ones have capsaicin. You can’t always go by the color to determine how hot it is,” says Malena Perdermo, MS, RD, CDE, affiliate professor of nutrition in the health professions department at the Metropolitan State College of Denver.”
Capsaicin hits pain receptors on the tongue’s nerve cells, which send ‘a tear-jerking, sweat-inducing, fiery blast of heat message’ to the brain. However, with constant exposure, these cells tend to become desensitized. “Once a person gets used to a chili pepper on the tongue, it actually becomes pleasant. Hot peppers release endorphins, the pleasure hormone,” says UCLA professor.
People in ancient Aztec and Mayan societies considered chili peppers an aphrodisiac.
The capsaicin in peppers has been shown to slightly curb appetite — at least briefly, hence helping in weight loss. And peppers can raise body temperature. That warming effect may have another benefit that may help with weight loss.
Calorie Burning. “When you’re on a low-calorie diet, your metabolic rate goes down about 10% to 15% and exercise will not raise it,” says Heber. “We wanted to see if chili peppers could increase metabolism in cases like these.” Heber’s team used a synthetic form of dihydrocapsiate (DCT), a compound similar to capsaicin but not spicy. Obese patients taking the DCT supplement burned, on average, an extra 80 calories a day – twice that of those taking a placebo. It’s a modest effect, similar to that of green tea or caffeine.

– Chili peppers help the body fight inflammation, a leading cause of disease. Everyone these days seems to be talking about inflammation—not the type you get when you get a cut or a pimple, but inflammation inside our bodies and cells, the kind that can’t be seen, preventing diseases like arthritis and diabetes, and possibly cancer. In fact, studies have shown that those cultures whose diets includes plenty of hot chilies have lower rates of certain types of cancer, including colon and stomach cancer. – About.com

– In most African cultures, the intense, spicy, body-temperature-raising properties of African peppers are believed to help rid the body of colds and fevers. They are also used (especially in soups) as a remedy for hangovers. – DUNIA Magazine.

Black pepper available in forms such as whole, crushed or ground is mostly produced in India and Indonesia. Black pepper has long been recognized as a carminitive ie a substance that helps prevent the formation of intestinal gas; a property likely due to its beneficial effect of stimulating hydrochloric acid production. In addition, black pepper has diaphoretic (promotes sweating), and diuretic (promotes urination) properties. – WHFoods.org

Bell peppers are rich in vitamin B6, which is essential for the health of the nervous system and helps renew cells. The bell pepper is a good source of Vitamin E, which is known to play a key role in keeping skin and hair looking youthful. Certain enzymes in bell peppers, such as lutein, protect the eyes from cataracts and muscular degeneration later in life. – Care2 Make A Difference

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