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