Health Benefits — chili

If you’re looking for yet another reason to add hot peppers to mealtime, it seems both your health and your taste buds will thank you! While by now you’ve probably heard that hot chili peppers are good for your health, additional research is now backing the theory that chili consumption can potentially help fend off major diseases.

Serrano peppers, with their vibrant green color and fiery heat, are a staple in many cuisines around the world.

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.

Before you freak out, don’t worry, you don’t need to shake hot sauce on your bulge. Capsaicin, the main compound found in chili peppers (the main ingredient in hot sauce) has been found to help prevent prostate cancer.