Health Benefits

It has been found that chile protects against the side effects of aspirin and chile eaters develop fewer peptic ulcers than those who eat plain foods. Also, rates of stomach cancer are unusually low in countries where chile peppers are part of a regular diet, as capsaicin appears to neutralize some carcinogens.

Millions suffer peripheral pain and other troubling sensations from diseases as varied as diabetes, AIDS, shingles, and arthritis. Now a new review suggests that four out of 10 people could experience some pain relief from the cream of topical capsaicin, an active component of chili peppers.

Capsaicin has been used medicinally for centuries. Hot peppers were one of the first plants domesticated in the Americas. Archaeologists believe people in Mexico were eating chiles and peppers as early as 7000 BC. Ancient pain-relievers and other medications used capsaicin as a major ingredient.

If you’re sweating it out in yoga class to the temperature of 105+ degrees, don’t say we didn’t try to tell you that some of the many benefits you get with a hot yoga class you can also get with eating a hot chili pepper.