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Cayenne pepper is world-renowned for being a
key ingredient in spicy dishes. And in recent years, it has added the
title of “healthy supplement” to its resume.
Several different research studies have proven that capsaicin, the main active compound in cayenne pepper, contains several components that can benefit your health in several different ways.
It
is a rich source of many minerals and vitamins e.g. Vitamin A, B complex, C as
well as potassium and calcium.
Below, you’ll find a list of the top twenty
health benefits cayenne pepper provides your body on a daily basis.
Top 20 Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper
1. Prevents migraine headaches.
When consumed, cayenne pepper depletes Substance P, a neurotransmitter that transmits pain impulses to the brain, which helps relieve migraine headaches.
2. Aids digestion.
Capsaicin is believed to stimulate your body’s digestive tract and help cure peptic ulcers by secreting specific acids, both of which help aid digestion.
3. Helps produce saliva.
Cayenne
pepper stimulates your body’s production of saliva. And saliva is
essential to maintain a healthy digestive system and promoting oral health.
4. Supports detoxification.
Cayenne
stimulates your body’s circulatory
system. It also causes you to sweat. Both are important processes in
body detoxification.
5. Has antimicrobial properties.
Cayenne
pepper is a fantastic food preservative that
prevents food contamination – essential for staying healthy.
6. Supports weight loss.
A
study by the National Institutes of
Health found that approximately a half-teaspoon of cayenne pepper
helped young adults burn 10 more calories in a four-hour period.
7. Helps relieve cold and flu symptoms.
Cayenne
helps break down mucus build-up in the body. Once that happens, relief from
cold and flu symptoms tends to occur more rapidly.
8. Contains anti-fungal properties.
Cayenne
pepper contains properties that are active against sixteen different fungal
strains and disrupts their membrane integrity.
9. Helps prevent blood clots.
It
is believed that capsaicin can clear away clot-causing lipid deposits and help
dilate your body’s arteries and blood vessels.
10. Relieves joint pain.
Cayenne
pepper relieves joint pain in two ways:
1) by triggering endorphin release when taken orally and 2) by blocking signals
to your brain’s joint pain receptors.
11. Treats cluster headaches.
Much
like with treating migraine headaches, the capsaicin in cayenne depletes the
nerve terminals of Substance P.
12. Treats psoriasis.
The
topical application of capsaicin to psoriasis-affected areas can help reduce
itching, reddening, and other psoriasis-related symptoms.
13. Treats toothaches and gum disease.
The
increased production of saliva and depleted amounts of Substance P caused by
cayenne pepper consumption treat both toothaches and gum disease.
14. Promotes heart health.
Cayenne
pepper has been linked with improved blood pressure, better blood
circulation, and blood clot prevention – all of which are key components
to a healthier heart and cardiovascular system.
15. Is a possible anti-cancer agent.
The
Journal of Cancer Research published a study in which 80% of human prostate cancer cells
(grown in mice) “committed suicide” after being introduced to a capsaicin
extract.
16. Has anti-irritant properties.
Cayenne
has been linked with treating symptoms such as upset stomach, diarrhea,
coughing, ulcers, and more.
17. Has anti-allergen properties.
In
addition to breaking up mucus, cayenne also stimulates the body’s sinuses,
effectively treating allergy-related symptoms by decreasing congestion.
18. Has anti-redness properties.
Thanks
to cayenne’s influence on improved circulatory function, it has been found to
help reduce redness in certain parts of the body.
19. Is a topical remedy for various conditions.
Cayenne
has been linked with being an effective topical remedy for symptoms such as
snakebites, open wounds and sores, rheumatoid arthritis pain,
and more.
20. Relieves musculoskeletal and neurological pain.
Research
has found that capsaicin cream can reduce postsurgical neuropathic pain
in cancer survivors and is an effective alternative treatment for
musculoskeletal and neurological pain.
The article was updated on 21.02.2017