India is a land of spices and when we think of spicy food, one word that comes to our mind is – red hot chilli! Known for their hot flavour, chillies are primarily used as spice under various dishes and for other culinary purposes. It contains a bioactive plant compound called capsaicin, which gives chilli its hot and spicy kick. Capsaicin is found mostly in seeds and veins of chilli, and the more capsaicin, the more spicy it is.
Whether you like slight heat or an intense blast of spice, chillies don’t only offer the culinary value, but they also offer numerous health benefits. In this article, we are going to discuss some of its health advantages.
1. Improves immune system with Chillies:
Chillies contain higher amounts of vitamins A and C which makes them a powerful immunity booster. Vitamin A protects the mucosa tissue such as the respiratory tract, urinary tract and intestinal tract, which is the primary defence organ of the body against outside germs. Chilli also contains a higher amount of vitamin C which helps to form and maintain cardiovascular tissue, ensuring good blood circulation.
2. Boosts metabolism:
Capsaicin is an alkaloid compound majorly found in chillies. When you eat chilli, your body temperature increases causing the process of thermogenesis. This requires increased work from your metabolism. Eating chillies may increase your metabolic rate hence causing your body to burn more calories.
3. Reduces inflammation:
The phytochemical constituents of capsicum possess anti-inflammatory properties, actually inhibiting the action of certain peptides in the body that cause irritation and swelling. Pain such as headaches, sinus pressure, arthritis and muscle and joint aches, are usually caused by inflammatory responses that the body produces in an attempt to eradicate an irritant. It also reduces peripheral neurogenic pain related to Crohn’s disease.
4. Improves heart health:
Studies show that flavonoids are beneficial against coronary heart diseases. Chilli peppers are warming and vasodilative, which improves hypo-tension and reduces heart rate. It also allows improved blood flow resulting in better oxygenation of organ tissues.
5. Fight against diabetes with Chillies:
Studies have shown that chilli peppers are highly beneficial for those suffering from diabetes. It reduces the amount of insulin required to digest food, causing lowered overall level of blood sugar. The lower insulin requirements also help to reduce the strain on the liver, leading to a more fully functional enzyme cascade within the digestive system. Diabetics who consume food containing chilli powder have seen a gradual improvement in their health.
So now that you know what chillies can do to your health apart from adding taste to your food, it’s time to spice up your life a little bit with health!