If you love eating hot chili or salsa, you’d probably be interested in learning a little more about one of the main ingredients in it – cayenne pepper.
What is cayenne pepper?
Capsium annuum or cayenne actually comes from the Greek verb “to bite”. Cayenne pepper is extremely popular in many cuisines around the world and can be used both fresh and dried. It has the ability to make the dishes hot. It is also useful because the spice contains calcium, potassium and magnesium, as well as vitamins A, C, E and part of the B complex. Capsaicin, its active ingredient, has a positive effect on blood circulation. Therefore, it is not surprising that it is an effective natural remedy used in alternative medicine.
What are its health benefits?
It can be very helpful in various conditions, both serious and mild: arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis), headaches, toothaches, back pain, poor digestion and cardiovascular diseases. It can even cause wounds to heal faster. Pain, inflammation and allergies can be suppressed thanks to this wonderful natural remedy. This means that you can easily prevent a cold and flu by consuming cayenne pepper.
When it comes to digestion, Capsicum annuum could produce saliva to improve it. There are some studies that suggest cayenne pepper may fight lung cancer and liver tumors. Even those who want to lose weight can benefit from the useful spice – it burns a lot of calories. There are a few cayenne substitutes related to cooking: paprika, red chili powder, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes, for example. However, there is probably no adequate cayenne pepper substitute for health purposes.
Also, this spice has anti-allergenic and anti-irritant properties and can be used to lower blood pressure, weight or even as a cleansing diet. It contains many vitamins and minerals that stimulate the immune system.
What is the recommended dosage?
If you are unfamiliar with this remedy, don’t rush to take massive amounts of it the first time. You need to start with 1/16 teaspoon of cayenne pepper in warm water/tea and gradually increase the dosage to half a teaspoon or a whole teaspoon. Such intake is recommended in case you use it for medicinal purposes. Otherwise, it can be added to some of your meals. This is how the cayenne pepper becomes a delicious addition to your cooking creations.
Thanks to Ionut I Vasile
