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 had no idea that peppers could be used to relieve joint pain. I can see why this would be important to be aware of if experience this kind of pain. I don’t usually like to eat any kind of spicy food other than barbecue things. I’ll have to slowly start to try other kinds of foods so I can get this benefit from them.
Scott,
I have heard that in some countries, people sprinkle a little cayenne pepper on their hot chocolate. Well, I liked the idea – but with one small difference! I take a little cayenne in my coffee every morning and have done so for 20 years. It spices up the coffee and makes it a little more “interesting”. By the way, I add a few grains of salt (kills acidity and enhances flavour) and a sprinkle of Cinnamon (helps regulate blood sugar) to my coffee, as well.
My point being, if you start off with a little cayenne in a hot drink such as Chai tea, hot chocolate or coffee, you’ll quickly become accustomed to the spice and be able to imbibe larger quantities.
Wishing you improved health and freedom from pain!
We’ve been putting salt in the coffee grains for years here I Texas. Great to cut the acidity and you can’t tell it’s in free coffee.
You’re doing the right thing….I’ve been eating hot peppers since I was 3 years old. I am from Eastern Europe and in my late 60’s. Adding salt to the coffee is also good, not too much though, and cinnamon also has its own health benefits.
I also want to try it;)
Michael, I have never heard of adding cayenne or salt to coffee, but now I want to try it!
I take powdered cayenne in capsules. Dr schultz carries powder and liquid. The active ingredient is known to prevent strokes and stop a heart attack if taken soon enough of course. I went through a period of time with heart palpation and after having taken cayenne capsules (sometimes 3 or more at a time) the palpations stopped. Liver cleanse expert Andreas Moritz recommends cayenne pepper for the blood. I would think that any powered hot peppers would do the same such as what is sold here (just put in capsules form).
Ive been eating hot peppers for 70yrs I’m 83 play golf 3 times a week don’t take any medication fell like 53 so I think it works
I never knew eating hot peppers had so many health benefits, I’ve been enjoying super hot peppers my whole life, with my friends and family telling me it would burn a hole in my stomach, at 51, I’m in great shape and have never been over weight.
Wow…. This is unbelievable,… Many said pepper doesn’t have any use.
1.Why is it that when I ate pepper I will be purging all the day?
2. When ever my friend ate pepper he do complaints of hot belly.
Thanks.
Gotta work your way up. I’ve been eating spicy stuff my whole life. It’s not something you want to jump right into but 10% of the population has almost a natural immunity to oleoresin capsicum (OC) or the active ingredient in pepper spray. You learn in law enforcement that pepper spray isnt always effective if it needs to be deployed. You also have to have it used on you before you can carry it and I can tell you on me it is QUITE effective, lol. I was hit with 500k Scoville units. We carried 2 million which is just above the hottest pepper in the world and a company Fox once made 15 million Scoville Heat Unit spray until it was discontinued back in the early 2000s… I cant imagine any situation where deploying something that can melt weave (fake hair) off your head is necessary which was one of the claims of a person I knew who’d tested it. Anyway, start with some jalapeno which can run from 500 or milder all the way up to 15,000 SHU. The Carolina Reaper for instance which is the hottest pepper on earth runs around 1,400,000 SHU yes that’s million and it is a killer I can assure you. I love growing peppers but that one ill never touch.
why is it that whenever i eat hot pepper, i experience stomach problem followed by diarrhoe immediately?
I believe its because you’re not use to it or your body had not gotten use to it. Your stomach is running because your system is being flush and clean. Eat more pepper and it gets better.
Small amounts to start don’t eat a habanero and think you won’t have an upset stomach.
We really like spicy food. I really thought it is not safe if you have an acidic stomach..
I have been taking skinned hot pepper for almost one week it feels me nice and good condition of my health. To be honest I am well convinced that hot pepper is one of the alternative herbal meds for health. I am addressing this for those who could not afford to buy their mentainance like me. Believe that hot peppers can cure all our illnesses who aging person. Thank you and God Bless us all
The spice in is a great idea, especially given these additional health benefits. Any recommendations on how to relieve it’s work on the way out?
J.Dean…try some vasoline… It works for me when I eat a whole bottle of Hot Yellow Chili Peppers. Use the vasoline before it reaches the end. LOL
great info. eating pieces of the california reaper today. 🙂
*Carolina Reaper
i am impressed i love pepper but the extreme hot pepper i can not handle
I truly believe about all these health benefits as me myself have been eating and loves peppers and thankfully I’m not having serious illness ever since. Actually, I experienced being ill once but that was because of some bad habits I did before.
Wow, great. I had always argued with a friend on the benefits of pepper. She usually said it has no benefit, but I always kicked against because I strongly believe it must be beneficial. Today, I found out the benefits and it’s really amazing.
Hot pepper is the best it has really help me with circulation of blood cell especially when the blood circulation is down
I have been eating one habanero pepper along with non-dairy yogurt for almost a month now. I have seen a big difference in energy level, for the better. Have had less problems with acid reflux, and my whole digestive system is firing on all cylinders, feels great so far. Still pretty hot to eat, but the non-dairy yogurt helps with that!