Educational
10 Amazing Health Benefits to Eating Hot Peppers [Scientifically Proven]
The documented health benefits from hot peppers continues to grow at a break-neck speed, similar to the increasing popularity of consuming hot foods in various forms. The heat and health benefits comes from a chemical called capsaicin.
Historically, spicy additions to food helped prevent spoilage in warm climates before the invention of refrigeration. Capsaicin’s anti-microbial properties inhibit as much as 75% of bacteria growth. People from cultures who lived and survived due to the use of various spices passed down to the next of kin spicy recipes and taste buds desiring extra zing in food.
Adding hot peppers, hot sauces and hot powders to food continues to protect us from food poisoning even though we now refrigerate food. To maximize these health benefits, eating the hottest pepper would magnify these effects.
Below are 10 health benefits of hot peppers.
1. Benefits the Digestive Tract
This may sound counter-intuitive, but the capsaicin in peppers actually act as an anti-irritant. People with ulcers have been told for years to avoid hot spicy foods, but research has revealed that peppers are beneficial to ulcers.
For example, pepper powder provides trace amounts of anti-oxidants and other chemicals to aid digestive issues such as, healing an upset stomach, reducing intestinal gas, curing diarrhea and acting as a natural remedy for cramps.
It does this by reducing the acidity in the digestive tract that causes ulcers. It also helps produce saliva and stimulates gastric juices aiding digestion.
2. Promotes a Healthy Heart
It also aids the circulatory system and prevents heart disease by lowering blood serum cholesterol and reduces lipid deposits, and therefore, reverses excessive blood clotting. It also dilates the blood vessels to aid in blood flow.
3. Mitigates Migraines
Have you ever had a pain on a body part that was your sole focus until you had another pain that was even worse? The original pain simply disappeared when your brain focused on the new injury.
This phenomenon is what happens to a migraine when you consume hot peppers. Your body becomes desensitized to the migraine and the overall sensation of pain is lessened.
4. Relieves Joint Pain
Due to the powerful pain-relieving properties of the capsaicin from peppers, it can be applied to the skin to reduce the chemical P, the ingredient that carries pain messages to the brain.
Ultimately, the pain receptors exhaust themselves by depleting the body’s reserves. Once this happens, the capsaicin acts as a pain reliever. It is used effectively for shingles, HIV neuropathy and other types of pain.
5. Improves Metabolism / Promotes Weight Loss
Spicy peppers revs up the metabolic rate by generating the thermogenic processes in our body that generates heat.
That process utilizes energy, and thereby, burns additional calores. In addition, if hot peppers are consumed at breakfast, the appetite is suppressed the rest of the day which ultimately helps in weight loss.
It may even alter proteins in your body to combat fat accumulation.
Capsaicin also has been studied as a holistic method to for weight loss. It will selectively destroy nerve fibers that send messages from the stomach to the brain.
6. Quells Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an itchy skin condition resulting in ugly skin patches. Capsaicin cream will significantly reduce the number of cells to replicating and aids in the reversal of the auto-immune skin lesions.
7. Reduces Cancer Risk
Since tne capsaicin in pepper flesh has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is being studied as a cancer-fighter. It reduces the growth of prostate cancer cells, while leaving normal cells unharmed.
Research also shows consumption of large quantities of peppers effective against breast, pancreatic and bladder cancers. (8 large habaneros per week)
8. Fights the Flu, Colds and Fungal Infections
Hot peppers are chock-full of beta carotene and antioxidants that support your immune system and will aid in fighting off colds and the flu.
Research has found that nasal sprays containing capsaicin reduce congestion. Increased body temperature from the ingestion of hot peppers triggers the immune system into action in fighting the norovirus (cold), flu viruses.
Consumption of peppers fights against 16 fungal strains by reducing fungal pathogens.
9. Prevents Bad Breath
To keep your significant other attracted to you, eating hot pepper powder acts as a disinfectant to the air you breathe out by improving the odor of your breath.
10. Prevents Allergies
Due to the anti-inflammatory benefits of capsaicin, hot peppers can help prevent allergies and symptoms from allergies.
References
Cayenne Pepper Benefits Your Gut, Heart & Beyond – Dr. Axe. (2015, May 23). Retrieved September 17, 2015, from http://draxe.com/cayenneof-pepper-benefits/
Food bacteria-spice survey shows why some cultures like it hot | Cornell Chronicle. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2015, from http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/1998/03/food-bacteria-spice-survey-shows-why-some-cultures-it-hot
Using Chili Peppers for Pain Relief. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2015, from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/07/14/chili-peppers-pain-relief.aspx
Which Hot Peppers Speed Up Your Metabolism Best? (2013, August 16). Retrieved September 17, 2015, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/36905-hot-peppers-speed-up-metabolism/
Zhang, W., & Po, L. (1994, March 22). The effectiveness of topically applied capsaicin. Retrieved September 17, 2015, from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00196108?LI=true#page-1
I’m 70yrs young, I have been eating hot Thai peppers which I grow for over 20yrs I eat them with all meals and carry a shaker of ground peppers in my purse for dining out, I play tennis ride bicycle everyday and walk 6 miles 3 days a week, my blood pressure is great and cholesterol so they do help with keep your body well. Never to late to start eating them. Makes food delicious.
I enjoy eating a pepper extract called the SOURCE which is rated on the Scofield heat chart index at 7.1 million heat units. I cut my regular Hot Sauce with the extract. This is not for everybody but I enjoy it especially on a cold winters night.
Previously i was not a fan of eating hot pepper but of recent am the first fan of eating hot pepper almost every meal i eat must have some hot pepper, i really enjoy eating hot pepper now.
Hi! I’m 56. Today is my 2nd day to include cayenne in my diet. I mix 6 finely chopped red cayenne with 2 raw eggs and drink it straight. The immediate benefit i have been experiencing is cessation of my palpitation, normalisation of my blood pressure, and over-all sense of wellness. I feel light and energetic. Coupled with increased water (with salt) intake, my chronic lower back pain is now gone too.
Indeed, food (healthy food) is the best medicine!
I love your company great products and info
The heath benefits mention here are amazing. Great read on the health benefits of eating peppers.
I am an 89 years old “very healthy old fart”…I consume a whole head of garlic mixed with about five or more very hot peppers and fresh tomatoes salsa…I have discontinued my very dear “prime rib and pork”….cook my salsa with sea food and top it with fresh fruits and vegetables convined with a selected dose of vitamins and walk about five miles every day …recently began to have some early morning very dizzy spells which required to clean my ears solution…yes! Hot Peppers are just plain marvelous !!!
I have been eating spicy food since i was 9, people are surprised at how i eat spicy at all meals. Sauces, peppers, powders etc. I even learned a few desired recepes and have built them to my taste. I hardly ever get sick, my metabolism is amazing, and when i do catch the once or maybe twice a year occasional cold, it is very mild and is gone in a few days. I strongly recommend spicy food. It might be damaging in excess although i myself have not experienced this, i would suggest that jalapeños are the more internal damaging pepper even though there are spicier ones. My all time favorite for its unique and give away taste is the habanero
I bought seeds from Pepperhead last year, and boy did I have an amazing crop, still producing pods in late October 2019. Top notch quality
Born to Hungarian parents, I grew up on a Hungarian diet, in which hot and mild peppers are very present, as are the allium and nightshade families of vegetable, and, of course, sour cream and all other milk products. In my late sixties, I was declared intolerant of all the former, and of gluten and tree nuts, because of my very nasty shortness of breath, itchy skin lesions and weight gain, and bloating and flatulence. Four years later, I came upon a deliciously hot Ceylon fish dish with a sweet chili sauce. That sent me running home to my darling Mum’s recipes. I still leave glutenous foods alone, and go easy on nuts and all milk products except sour cream. But do I adore my hot chili! It gets pared with love into my re-found gulyas soup, porkolt, paprika chicken, rakott krumpli, etc. Slim again and dressing to the nines, I pass easily for a woman in her fifties. (No kidding.) Ah, hot chili mon amour! Szeretlek.
Just survived my first bite of a Carolina reaper. Wow…damn near a religious experience! I’m 56, with Mexican blood in my veins, and have been a pepper head for almost all my adult life. I can tell you that I’ve been a ‘minor leaguer’ in this pepper experience until a few moments ago. As Nietzsche quipped, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”
The wife and I are attempting to preserve them by grinding them up in a blender with some avocado oil and salt. I used a few dabs of this evil concoction on a fried egg, and the taste was simply sublime.
I love the part where pepper helps in weight reduction
I grew Habaneros’ this year, dried and ground them into a powder. In the morning, with my avocado, I squeeze a 1/2 lime and add a pinch of my powder (not TOO MUCH!haha WHEW!) to my avocado on whole wheat toast. Some cherries tomatoes tame the heat when I am too generous with the powder 😉 Next year, I have some Carolina Reaper and Ghost pepper seeds to grow! Just read Chris L.’s comment…guess I better get ready for an experience, hu?! ha
This is a revelation. All the years I thought that chili peppers were not that good to the body. But this article unveiled the healthy benefits of this fruit.
Every Colombian enjoy the called AJI . Very strong bring tears to the eyes. But when I try the Carolina Reaper just the tip bite my whole entire system stop and for a period of a half hour.That was a incredible experience out the world then my entire body when in a completely satisfaction,my whole digestive system was absolutely great.
I have been suffering from chronic joint pains since I started using hot paper in my dishes I may say I have forgotten the last day I took pain killers 6 years down the line now.
No one is so rich that they can not help others, and no one is too poor to help others in some way
That’s so good,
I always use pepper and it work’s very well
I am a complete culinary wimp when it comes to hot foods. It affects me in a way that it affects my sense of taste. The burn is too uncomfortable. But, I would like to receive the health benefits. Are there any capsaicin supplements?
Right now I just about put my Tabasco sauces on damn near everything.
Can’t get enough of the stuff. Man, drip a few drops onto a plain small cracker and there is a tasty meal right there!!!
Jalapeño about the hottest I can take, I grew Cajun belle, Serrano, la Bomba’s, and jalapeño. They are still producing here in Florida. I have NEMEX big Jim’s, sahuaro big Chile’s, and sunset joy banana started form seeds. I also have cayennes that produce throughout the year. We have pickled the Cajun belles and jalapeño’s. Can’t wait for the big Jim’s to come on.
I am a hot chilly lover and thank you for information..
I learned a lot from you.
I am only 9 years old and when I tried the Carolina reaper pepper wow the heat did not go it stay to talk for over 20 min and that pepper was not my friend I am telling you that right now >=3
Don’t eat it straight or raw. Mix it with your favourite recipe like grilled fish for example.
its better for you fresh and raw. more benefits to be had.
it’s delicious straight and raw for me! 🙂
It’s so interesting how the capsaicin found in chili peppers can combat ulcer-causing bacteria. I have been feeling bored with my daily meals lately, so I’m thinking about getting some spicier ingredients. It’s great to hear that this is actually beneficial to stomach health.
Some info on here is dangerous, Ulcers are not caused by Acid or alcohol, but by H. Pylori which is a bacteria. This can be fixed by taking certain antibiotics. Just google “what causes stomach ulcers” I have first hand experience of this.
The article said hot peppers are an antibiotic. ??? So it works in this case also. “It inhibits as much as 75% of bacterial growth” and multiple cultures have used it as a preservative before refrigeration.
I have done research after a person I knew—- H. Pylori caused a life threatening situation of a torn esphageous. In that condition only 30% of people survive–she healed. Learned probiotics can keep you from having a build up of H. Pylori. I don’t advise constant use of antibiotics because you can build a resistance and if you get it really sick with like an infection then antibiotics won’t work.
your information is misleading and can be consider dangerous. Peppers are extremely healthy for you and your stomach and immune health.