By: Svetlana Pasarić |
The healthiest food in the world: chili |
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Chili, cayenne pepper and chili peppers are hot peppers from the Capsicum family.
They became popular because of their hot flavor that is an indispensable part of many dishes and sauces.
Peppers owe their hot flavor to a special ingredient called capsaicin.
The more capsaicin it contains, the peppers are hotter.
The large quantities of capsaicin burn the lips, tongue and throat and make you cry.
Big fans of peppery hot dishes are Indians, Vietnamese, Mexicans and Hungarians.
Most people still like the moderately hot flavor that enhances the flavor of food and stimulates digestion.
And not only that - chili provides numerous health benefits.
Why is chili healthy?
Capsaicin gives peppers not only hotness, but also a special healing properties that make them among the healthiest foods of the world.
Chili Peppers:
1. Have anti-inflammatory effects
Due to capsaicin, chili has anti-inflammatory properties. Capsaicin strongly blocks substance P, which is associated with inflammatory processes in the body. Regular intake of chili can be used as an excellent prevention of arthritis.
2. Prevent pain
Latest research confirms that chili effectively reduces the pain caused by arthritis, psoriasis and diabetic neuropathy.
3. Promote cardiovascular health
It has been shown that hot peppers reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels and prevent blood clots. Cultures that widely use chili in their diet have much lower rates of heart disease, stroke and thrombosis.
4. Improve digestion
According to Ayurveda, spicy flavor stimulates the appetite and improves digestion. Food that is well digested gives the body the necessary nutrients and energy, and food that is not digested well creates toxins. Therefore, according to Ayurveda, good digestion is essential for our health.
5. "Feed" our immunity
Bright red color of chili peppers testifies to the high content of beta-carotene or pro-vitamine A. Just a few teaspoons of chili a day gives the body extra doses of vitamins C and A, which are essential in the prevention of infection.
6. Prevent prostate cancer
Studies on prostate cancer have shown that capsaicin acts as a real "killer" of cancer cells. After four weeks of therapy with capsaicin, the growth of prostate cancer cells was stopped in most animal subjects, and tumor size was significantly reduced. For the prevention of prostate cancer it is recommended to take 400 mg of capsaicin three times a week.
7. Encourage weight loss
Hot taste of chili peppers increases thermogenesis – creation of the heat in the body. The process of thermogenesis uses extra calories, resulting in loss of fat.
8. Prevent stomach ulcers
It has long been thought that the intake of hot foods causes stomach ulcers. Today it has been confirmed that hot peppers not only do not cause ulcers, but prevent them because they kill harmful bacteria and stimulate the production of protective stomach juices.
9. Help with type 2 diabetes
Regular intake of chili can prevent type 2 diabetes. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition claims that regular intake of chili reduces the body's need for insulin secretion that reduces blood sugar levels after meals.
What kinds of peppers to use
Pepper’s hotness depends on its type. However, even within one pepper type hotness can significantly vary.
Pepper’s hotness is measured by a special scale, for which Scoville units are used:
- sweet pepper = 0 units
- pepperoncini = 100 - 500 units
- pasilla = 1000-1500 units
- rocotillo = 1500-2500 units
- jalapeno = 2500-5000 units
- wax = 5000-10000 units
- vserrano = 10000-23000 units
- cayenne pepper, Tabasco, Guntur chilli - 30000-50000 units
- red savina habanera = 360000-500000 units
- naga viper, infinity chili - 855,000 to 1,500,000 units
Tabasco sauce, which is highly regarded, is made from red habanera and its hotness is 8000 units.
Generally speaking, if the pepper (or sauce) is hotter, they are better because then they contain more medicinal ingredient - capsaicin.
An easy way to add hot peppers to your menu
A very simple way of adding hotness to your everyday menu is to use fresh or pickled hot peppers or chili sauces with your meals. You can also use chili powder by sprinkling it over your dishes.
In Indian food stores you can find healthy and delicious Indian pickles - hot fermented product of lime, mango, oil, mustard, chili and other spices.
You can add chili during cooking - but be careful not to chase your friends and family members away from the table!
How much hot pepper to intake?
Hot pepper intake depends on the percentage of capsaicin contained in pepper - as evidenced by it hotness.
Although hot peppers are very healing, do not overuse them. As in all things, the consumption of hot flavor has to be in the golden middle. Ayurveda says that excessive intake of hot foods can have negative effects on health.
On average, it is sufficient to intake 1-2 teaspoons of hot peppers every day.
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