| When they cut into a pepper of any type, most cooks | | | | plants.Consuming chile peppers has been shown to |
| will naturally discard the seeds and white ribs or veins | | | | stimulate and increase circulation of blood throughout |
| inside of the pepper without giving it much thought. | | | | the body, from the internal organs to your skins |
| While the veins are not very tasty for our palates, | | | | surface, which helps to lower blood pressure. |
| concentrated within them is a substance called | | | | Capsaicin also helps to strengthen blood vessel walls |
| capsaicin, which not only provides the pepper with its | | | | by increasing their elasticity, better allowing the vessels |
| signature heat, but also provides a hearty dose of | | | | to adjust to regular changes in blood pressure. |
| health benefits.For example, capsaicin is loaded with | | | | Additionally, when you sweat while eating chiles, you |
| vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, and bioflavinoids | | | | lose fluids, which will reduce your blood volume |
| (which are antioxidants that serve to protect your | | | | temporarily, and thus lower your blood |
| body against infection, help you to properly absorb | | | | pressure.Speaking of blood, eating peppers has also |
| vitamin C, and maintain the strength of your capillaries). | | | | shown to decrease the number of free radicals |
| Capsaicin is low in fat, calories and cholesterol, and | | | | floating around in our systems, which is quite important |
| aids in digestion. If that's not enough, capsaicin has also | | | | considering free radicals can do you a lot of harm. |
| shown to increase your metabolic rate, which means | | | | Free radicals are a natural part of the production of |
| your body is burning more calories. A study recently | | | | chemicals by the mitochondria in your cells. But, if your |
| published in the British Journal of Nutrition validated this | | | | body fails to combat them effectively, it is believed |
| by showing that capsaicin added to the breakfast and | | | | they can directly influence cell growth and |
| lunch foods of test subjects resulted in their eating less | | | | development, cell survival and are likely to increase the |
| at these meals. Additionally, the results showed that | | | | risk of atherosclerosis, cancer, premature aging and |
| the subject's appetites were suppressed for up to | | | | several other conditions, including inflammatory disease. |
| several hours after ingesting the capsaicin, and that the | | | | They are constantly attacking body proteins, |
| number of calories they burned, particularly after meals | | | | carbohydrates, fats and DNA, causing potentially |
| high in fat, was higher than those subjects who did not | | | | serious damage unless kept in check, so by increasing |
| receive any capsaicin.Capsaicin has also been in use | | | | the amount of peppers in your diet, you can help to |
| for many years as a treatment for inflamed muscle | | | | strengthen your system against these radicals.Chile |
| and non-rheumatoid arthritis pain, post-operative pain, | | | | peppers are also quite effective at relieving the pain |
| and for pains resulting from burns and other medical | | | | caused by headaches. Numerous research studies are |
| conditions. Most commonly available as a cream or | | | | currently underway to examine the effects of |
| ointment, the capsaicin is applied directly to sore areas. | | | | capsaicin on migraines, but there is definite promise in |
| Chemically speaking, when applied, the protein ion | | | | their results. Research has shown that pepper powder |
| receptors in our body bind with the capsaicin in the | | | | snorted directly in the nostrils does appear to provide |
| cream, which allows calcium and sodium ions to react | | | | some migraine suffers with relief. This stems from our |
| with the sensory nerve cells and inhibit the transmission | | | | current knowledge that capsaicin cream will relieve the |
| of pain signals through these receptors. Further to this, | | | | pain and symptoms of cluster headaches when |
| capsaicin creams have also been shown to counter | | | | applied directly inside the nostril. When taken directly |
| the production of the neurotransmitter responsible for | | | | into the nostrils, capsaicin deactivates the nerve |
| transmitting pain signals in the joints. It is able to do this | | | | release fibres and desensitizes the nasal nerves, which |
| by stimulating the brain to continuously release this | | | | relieves these headaches, as well as those caused by |
| transmitter in response to the heat from the capsaicin | | | | sinusitis, tension, and allergies.Next time the flu or cold |
| cream. As a result of this increased output, the body | | | | bug hits home, eating a spicy dish made with chili |
| soon depletes its reserve and releases less and less | | | | peppers can help to fight the discomfort by promoting |
| of the transmitter which leads to less response from | | | | sweating as well as opening clogged nasal and sinus |
| the nerve endings and improved pain relief. Capsaicin | | | | passages. Additionally, chiles serve as an expectorant |
| has also been shown effective at controlling the pain | | | | to help soothe bronchial spasms and loosen mucous |
| and discomfort associated with diabetes mellitus, itching | | | | secretions that accompany a dry cough. If you have a |
| associated with dialysis, and when used in a candy | | | | sore throat, an old remedy that really works is a simple |
| form, the discomfort and pain of lesions inside the | | | | mix of a tablespoon of bourbon, a tablespoon of |
| mouths of cancer patients.Besides controlling pain, | | | | water, and a teaspoon of cayenne. Sprayed on the |
| capsaicin cream has been shown to be an effective | | | | back of the throat, you can expect relief for several |
| treatment for the dermatitis and pruritis caused by skin | | | | hours.As you have just learned, chile peppers and |
| rashes and irritations such as psoriasis, and poison ivy | | | | especially capsaicin, serve a purpose that is far |
| oak/sumac. While capsaicin itself can be a skin irritant | | | | greater than just as a spicy flavoring for foods. Eaten |
| and in its purest forms even burn the skin, when used | | | | regularly as part of a healthy diet, chile peppers are |
| cautiously under the advice and guidance of a | | | | guaranteed by Mother Nature to provide your body |
| physician, capsaicin quickly dries up irritated psoriasis | | | | with a dose of health benefits. Oh, and the next time |
| patches and effectively relieves the itching and stinging | | | | you are rubbing cream on your tired, aching muscles, |
| from poison ivy by neutralizing the oils from these | | | | thank the chile pepper. |