Cayenne pepper is typically used to add a little flavor to mealtime
But there are several other benefits to eating hot peppers. They can potentially be used for everything from pain relief to weight management. The active ingredient in cayenne peppers is capsaicin, and it could have some real benefits for pain relief. It’s thought that creams and ointments made with capsaicin may help people who suffer from osteoarthritis. It could also help athletes, who commonly deal with discomfort and pain.
If you almost seem to catch a cold this time of year...
Some people credit cayenne pepper for helping fight off colds, plus offering some relief from congestion and coughs. It’s thought capsaicin shrinks dilated blood vessels in the throat and nose. Capsaicin may even have some antibacterial properties. Another benefit could be a boost in antioxidants. Cayenne pepper is packed with Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and other healthy stuff. Because antioxidants help your body rid itself of free radicals, cayenne pepper could help prevent a number of health issues. Others look to cayenne pepper to help promote weight loss and boost metabolism. It’s not exactly clear what role capsaicin has, but it may play a part. One more benefit could be tied to the antibacterial properties of capsaicin. It’s thought capsaicin patches may help with skin conditions, such as psoriasis.
If you want to get more cayenne pepper in your diet, you can try putting it in a marinade, a rub, or a curry.
Cayenne pepper works well with a number of dishes, including fish, tacos, casseroles, pasta, or eggs. If you’re making a salad, you can try adding some cayenne pepper to vinegar or olive oil, then whip up a dressing. Once you’ve experimented a little with cayenne pepper you may want to look at some of the other peppers on the Scoville Scale and come up with some new and exciting recipes to try out.