Summary:
Knowing 10 amazing benefits of cayenne pepper for your health may make you want to include cayenne pepper in your daily diet.
Cayenne pepper is used in powdered and whole forms in several different cuisines in the world, especially in Mexican and southwestern American cuisine. It has been a part of Native American medicine and cuisine for hundreds of decades. In addition, it is widely used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines.
Pungent and fiercely hot cayenne pepper is among the most common spicy ingredients in the world. The hotness of cayenne on the Scoville scale, belonging to the Capsicum genus, is 30,000 – 50,000 Scoville heat units.
Amazing Advantages And Benefits Of Cayenne Pepper For Health
Capsaicin – the active compound contained in cayenne pepper is what gives this spice its heat to the table. In reality, several health advantages of cayenne pepper are also attributed to this active compound.
Capsaicin is approved by the Food & Drug Administration of the United States for use in over-the-counter goods and could be found in ointments and creams as well.
Cayenne pepper also has vitamin B6, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, copper, manganese, potassium, and many flavonoids, which offer us powerful antioxidant impacts.
Consuming a very small amount of this spice on a regular basis is really good for your health in many ways and for many reasons.
Warnings And Safety Measures
- If consuming cayenne pepper leads a mouth burning sensation, opt for some cold yogurt for fast relief.
- Keep fresh cayenne pepper in your fridge in a plastic bag and store dry powdered cayenne pepper in a cool place in an airtight container.
- If consuming cayenne pepper leads to heartburn or stomach irritation, consult your doctor right away.
- Always consult an expert before using a supplement that contains capsaicin.
- Do not take a hot shower or use a heating pad after and before using a capsaicin cream.
- Make sure to wash your hands after applying a cream containing capsaicin.
- Do not give children under 2 a capsaicin cream.
- Do not apply capsaicin cream on broken skin or open wounds. Avoid contact with your mouth, nose, and eyes.
Read on to discover some of the most amazing benefits of cayenne pepper for health that make you want to add this spice into your daily diet.
The Best Health Advantages
1. Aid in Cancer Prevention
Cayenne pepper can aid lot in preventing cancer of the breast, prostate, liver, lungs, and skin. Again, this is related to the magic of capsaicin, which may induce cancer cells in killing themselves during the apoptosis process.
Nevertheless, further researches are still necessary to determine if the advantages of capsaicin can extend to human beings.
published in Oncogene in 2010 noted that by modulating the EGFR/HER-2 pathway, capsaicin can cause apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in ER- negative and positive cells of breast cancer. This will help a lot in treating and preventing breast cancer.
Another research published in Cancer Research in 2006 reported that capsaicin can help to inhibit the androgen-independent growth, animals’ p53 mutant prostate cancer cells.
People just need to add a little amount of cayenne pepper to their daily meals to reduce risk.
2. Heals Sore Throat
Cayenne pepper is also very efficient for those dealing with the sore throat issue. Capsaicin in cayenne pepper can work effectively as a natural decongestant to it can aid a lot in eliminating infection triggering germs.
To make use of cayenne pepper for this purpose, try mixing a cup of hot water with 0.5 tsp. of powdered cayenne pepper. Gargle in your throat and mouth with this spicy elixir three to four times per day until the sore throat has subsided.
Alternatively, try adding 0.5 tsp. of cayenne power to one tbsp. of raw honey and consume the mixture 2 – 3 times per day.
Note: These natural treatments are not suggested for small kids.
3. Supports Detoxification
Besides weight loss, cayenne pepper can also aid the body detoxification, which in turn can help to protect our body from conditions and promote optimum health as well. Detoxification can assist the gallbladder and liver to eliminate all harmful toxic substances inside our body.
Because cayenne pepper is a circulatory stimulant, it can raise the temperature of our body and kick-start our metabolism for streamlining the body’s natural detoxification process. In addition, it can help to activate our sweat glands, another crucial factor of body detoxification. Here are some simple steps you will need to follow at home with the use of cayenne pepper for the mentioned purpose:
- Mix in a glass of warm water with raw honey (according to your taste), ½ teaspoon of powdered cayenne pepper, and the juice of one lemon.
- Consume the solution every day on an empty stomach for about one week.
- Do this once again after 30 days.
4. Support Weight Loss
This spicy natural food item can help a lot in reducing appetite, meaningless caloric consumption throughout the day, which can help to reach weight loss goal soon.
Being a wonderful metabolic-booster, cayenne pepper can aid a lot in burning excessive fat fast and effectively.
Moreover, cayenne pepper can aid in the absorption of nutrients and digestion, which are extremely needed for us to maintain a stable and suitable body weight.
Research published in Clinical Nutrition reported that a cure with six mg/d capsinoids orally can promote the fat loss of abdominal area safely.
Another research published in the same journal in 2009 noted that green tea and capsaicin can suppress hunger and increase more satiety during negative rather than a positive balance of energy.
Behavior in 2011 also highlighted the good impacts on the appetite of taking red pepper doses that are hedonically acceptable.
To make use of cayenne pepper for this purpose, try adding half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to your smoothie or juice for breakfast for suppressing the appetite and burning more calories.
5. Prevent Blood Clots
The capsaicin content of cayenne pepper can work effectively as a powerful antioxidant and can help in dilating blood vessels to ensure sufficient blood flow throughout organs and the entire body.
It can even encourage fibrinolytic activities and prevent factors that can cause the blood clots formation.
With sufficient blood circulation, the risks of having blood clots and many heart issues would be reduced.
Capsaicin can also help in reducing low-density lipoproteins (‘bad’ cholesterol or LDL) and triglycerides, the 2 of the main trigger agents for heart disease. It can even help in lowering blood pressure and getting rid of blockages in veins and arteries. Follow these simple steps at home to prevent blood clots with the help of cayenne pepper:
- Try mixing in 1 cup of warm water with half a teaspoon of powdered.
- Add two tbsps. of unfiltered, raw apple cider vinegar and 1 tbsp. of raw honey to the mixture, and stir the ingredients well.
- Consume the liquid 2 times per day to achieve the best results.
6. Relieves Joint And Muscle Pain
The capsaicin compound in cayenne pepper can help to exhibit an anti-inflammatory property that can help in reducing inflammation and pain.
It can also help to prevent the activation of the pain transmitters inside our brain, which in turn can help to reduce the painful feelings. For tender muscles or achy joints, cayenne pepper is actually a great thing to opt for as a natural remedy.
Over-the-counter ointments or creams that contain from 0.025% – 0.075% purified capsaicin is suggested by health professionals to relieve back pain tenderness, pain after surgery, joint pain due to arthritis, leg pain from diabetic neuropathy, pain from osteoarthritis, and nerve pain from shingles.
published in the Anesthesia British Journal in 2011 noted that the topical use of capsaicin cream is very useful for pain control and reduction.
Research published in Phytotherapy in 2010 shed light on the safety and effectiveness of topical capsaicin cream in treating the pain caused by chronic soft tissue.
In fact, people can make a pain-relieving ointment at home just by making use of cayenne pepper. Here are the steps you will need to follow at home for this purpose:
- Mix half a tsp. of ground cayenne pepper with two or three tsp. of warm coconut oil or olive.
- Use it to apply directly onto the painful muscles and joints.
- Allow it to stay within about twenty minutes, and then wash it off.
- Apply this method one time per day until you see your pain gone.
Note: Do not use cayenne pepper on irritated or broken skin.
7. Fight Common Colds
Cayenne pepper can also work effectively like an anti-flu and cold agent and offers fast relief from symptoms of common flu and cold, especially congestion.
The fiery impact of cayenne pepper can help a lot in stimulating secretions, which in turn can help to relieve blocked sinuses and nasal congestion. It can even induce sneezing to help in eliminating the allergens and mucus in your sinuses.
published in the Annals of Asthma, Allergy, And Immunology in 2011 reported that patients using a nasal spray of capsaicin over a 2 week period had less congestion. There are two simple ways people can make use at home with the help of cayenne pepper to cure common colds and flu:
- When you suffer from a common cold, you just need to sprinkle cayenne pepper onto your salad or soup or try adding some cayenne pepper to a ginger tea and consume as this can ease your symptoms fast and effectively.
- Alternatively, try mixing ¼ tsp. each of ground ginger and cayenne pepper powder with 1 tbsp. each of unfiltered, raw apple cider vinegar and raw honey. Add half cup of warm water to that combination and consume it two times per day.
8. Relieve Headache Pain
Whether you are dealing with a cluster, migraine, or a tension headache, you can make use of cayenne pepper to relieve your pain.
Capsaicin provides powerful healing and pain-relief abilities. It is very useful for migraine pain as well. Capsaicin can help to reduce the platelet aggregation agent, which by constricting blood circulation inside the head, is usually responsible for the migraine headaches’ onset.
By making use of capsaicin-based ointments or gels, you can also relieve symptoms of cluster headaches.
A placebo-controlled double-blind trial published in Cephalalgia in 1993 exposed that the capsaicin cream topical application is very useful for treating cluster headaches.
Capsaicin can desensitize sensory neurons by depleting the substance P.’s nerve terminals, a neuropeptide associated with pain and processes due to inflammation.
9. Improve Oral Health
Cayenne pepper is an actually great agent for preventing gum disease that could range from periodontitis to gingivitis and improving oral health. Be it a dry mouth, bleeding gums, bad breath, toothache, swollen gums, and cayenne pepper can aid in combating these oral issues.
It contains powerful anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties that can aid in reducing swelling and pain of the gums effectively. As it can help to stimulate the production of saliva, it can even cure bad breath and dry mouth. Here are some easy steps people can follow at home with the help of cayenne pepper for the mentioned purpose:
- Put two or three drops of tinctured cayenne pepper onto your soft-bristle toothbrush.
- Brush your teeth and gums with this toothbrush for 2 – 3 minutes.
- Use clean water to wash your mouth thoroughly.
- Apply this method two or three times per week to prevent oral related issues.
10. Improve Symptoms Of Psoriasis
The capsaicin topical application is very useful in curing psoriasis. Its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties can reduce itching and other symptoms significantly. In addition, as an antimicrobial agent, it can help a lot in preventing infections.
published in the American Academy of Dermatology Journal in 1993 stated that the capsaicin topical application can treat pruritic psoriasis effectively.
In this double-blind research, nearly 200 patients applied 0.025% capsaicin cream 4 times per day for 1.5 months and saw satisfied results.
Apply capsaicin-based lotions or creams on your affected skin region 2 – 3 times per day. It will often take three to seven days before people start noticing some improved signs on the skin issue.
The article is an entire combination of the best benefits for health that cayenne pepper brings to humans. The information exposed in this article is proven by science so that readers should feel secure about it. If you have any question to ask, do not hesitate to leave them in the section below and wait for a soon replication.
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