The Best Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper
Hot and spicy, cayenne pepper is available year round adding zest to flavorful dishes around the world and health to those brave enough to risk its fiery heat.
Cayenne pepper is known as the prince of spices and it is a member of the Capsicum family of vegetables, which are more commonly known as chili peppers. It is known botanically as Capsicum annuum. The common name "cayenne" was actually given to this pepper because of its cultivation in a town that bears the same name in French Guiana on the northeast coast of South America.
Cayenne pepper has anti- inflammatory, anti- allergen, anti-fungal and anti-irritant properties. Many of the seasonings also have various health benefits. Cayenne pepper contains vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin B6 and vitamin C, and also beta-carotene, manganese and potassium, which are good for health.
But surprisingly these healthy benefits are unknown to a majority of people. So read below to know more on the top Cayenne pepper benefits:
Anti-Irritant Properties
Cayenne has the ability to ease upset stomach, ulcers, sore throats, spasmodic and irritating coughs, and diarrhea.
Anti-Cold and Flu Agent
Cayenne pepper aids in breaking up and moving congested mucus. Once mucus begins to leave the body, relief from flu symptoms generally follows.
Migraine Headache Prevention
This may be related to the pepper’s ability to stimulate a pain response in a different area of the body, thus reverting the brain’s attention to the new site. Following this initial pain reaction, the nerve fibers have a depleted substance P (the nerve’s pain chemical), and the perception of pain is lessened.
Anti-Allergen
Cayenne is an anti-inflammatory agent and may even help relieve allergies.
Digestive Aid
Cayenne is a well-known digestive aid. It stimulates the digestive tract, increasing the flow of enzyme production and gastric juices. This aids the body’s ability to metabolize food (and toxins). Cayenne pepper is also helpful for relieving intestinal gas. It stimulates intestinal peristaltic motion, aiding in both assimilation and elimination.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Cayenne’s anti-inflammatory properties make it a great herb for arthritis, diabetes, psoriasis and herpes-related nerve damage.
Helps Produce Saliva
Cayenne stimulates the production of saliva, an important key to excellent digestion and maintaining optimal oral health.
Useful for Blood Clots
Cayenne pepper also helps reduce atherosclerosis, encourages fibrinolytic activity and prevents factors that lead to the formation of blood clots, all of which can help reduce the chances of a heart attack or stroke.
Detox Support
Cayenne is a known circulatory stimulant. It also increases the pulse of our lymphatic and digestive rhythms. By heating the body, the natural process of detoxification is streamlined. Cayenne also causes us to sweat, another important process of detoxification. Combined with lemon juice and honey, cayenne tea is an excellent morning beverage for total body detox.
Joint-Pain Reliever
Extremely high in a substance called capsaicin, cayenne pepper acts to cause temporary pain on the skin, which sends chemical messengers from the skin into the joint, offering relief for joint pain.
Anti-Bacterial Properties
Cayenne is an excellent preservative and has been used traditionally to prevent food contamination from bacteria.
Helps in Weight Loss
Cayenne pepper health benefits include its capability in helping loose weight. It burns the fat and thereby eliminates the excess waste. As it helps in increasing the metabolism, one can lose more weight. Intake of cayenne pepper also decreases your appetite.
Improves Heart-Health
Cayenne helps to keep blood pressure levels normalized. It also rids the body of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
Remedy for Toothache
Cayenne is an excellent agent against tooth and gum diseases.
Helps in Hair Growth
Cayenne pepper helps in hair growth. One of the main reasons for baldness is due to reduction in the circulation of blood. Cayenne pepper when applied on the scalp increases the circulation of blood by causing irritation in the scalp (hence this irritation is for a good cause)
Topical Remedy
As a poultice, cayenne has been used to treat snake bites, rheumatism, inflammation, sores, wounds and lumbago.
Prevents Cancer
The most important benefit of cayenne pepper is that it helps in preventing cancer as it kills the cancer cells in our body in lungs and pancreas. This property of cayenne pepper comes from capsaicin. The process is known as apoptosis.
So start including Cayenne pepper in your daily diet in adequate quantities.
Sources:
whfoods.com
globalhealingcenter.com
stylecraze.com
Other links:
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