Crazy right?
How many times have you felt like you couldn’t breathe when you tasted a spicy hot pepper that set your insides on fire and numbed every taste bud on your tongue? That sneaky little component, capsaicin, (it’s what makes hot sauce HOT) can actually be a magical substance to help reduce wheezing and clear airways to help you breathe comfortably.
There are many compounds that trigger constriction in the airways and in some of these cases taking a form of capsaicin can help reduce the severity of the attack by actually acting as an anti-inflammatory. This is because when you consume capsaicin regularly it desensitizes the nerve ending in the bronchial passage, those same ones that can cause inflammation and lead to an asthma attack. Also, that nasty green mucus that can plug up your airways hates capsaicin which acts as a mucus thinner by helping to release watery fluids to break up the mucus and eventually drowning it out.
So try a little spice on your next meal! While you may have an onset of watery eyes and struggle with an uncomfortable cough, after a few moments the chemical “histamine” is released and you finally have a clear landing for a nice deep and welcoming breath - making your lungs do a happy dance.
How to consume:
- Try hot spicy condiments like hot sauce, horseradish, wasabi, hot mustard in your next meal
- Sprinkle cayenne in your glass of water or take cayenne supplements
- drink hot tea with cayenne pepper in it or find cayenne pepper tea at your local health food store
- Chew a few pepper berries every day
- Drink diluted Apple Cider Vinegar with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper
Note: Always consult with your doctor or health care practitioner
