Chilli for Health

Dear Readers, Chilli is much more than a tasty spice for dishes. Their health-promoting effects make them a true all-rounder. You can find out here what and how you can use the chilli.

Worth knowing about chilli for health

Surely you have already used the chilli for seasoning and know it mainly because of its hot taste. The reason for the typical burning sensation in the mouth and throat is the active ingredient capsaicin, which varies in strength depending on the type of chilli and the cultivation.

The chilli belongs to the nightshade family and has the botanical name Capsicum. It originally comes from Central and South America and was probably first brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus. It has been bred by humans for almost 6,000 years and used by Native Americans for osteoarthritis and toothache for much longer.

Why the chilli is hot

Surely you have already had the feeling that your entire mouth area is on fire after biting into the pepperoni. In fact, the alkaloid capsaicin itself does not burn. Instead, it stimulates the pain receptors in our mucous membranes, which then send stimulus signals to the brain.

So the only reason you feel pain when eating chilli is because your brain is sending you the “hot” and “spicy” signals.

If you have eaten a chilli that is too hot, reaching for a glass of water will unfortunately not help you. Capsaicin does not dissolve in water but binds to fatty foods and drinks. So, should this situation arise, butter, milk, or cheese will definitely provide relief?

Capsaicin as a medicinal agent

So far it is clear that the active ingredient capsaicin is to blame for the burning pain. However, it is anything but dangerous or harmful to health (at least in the right dosage).

Capsaicin has long been part of numerous investigations and studies and has been proven to be a true miracle spice in terms of healing effects. It has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect.

Medicinal properties of chilli for health

Not only has the capsaicin made the chilli so valuable. The pod also contains essential oils, carotenoids, flavonoids and vitamin C. All these ingredients are very valuable for our bodies and contribute a lot to our health.

Capsaicin is actually responsible for most of the healing effects. It is the reason why our body is fooled into believing that it is burning and therefore reacts with the release of endorphins and increased blood circulation, among other things.

Fights cancer cells

Especially in the field of cancer research, the chilli for health has proven to be a real miracle cure. Even in early studies, scientists recognized the cancer-inhibiting potential of capsaicin. The active ingredient specifically attacks the mitochondria and triggers the natural cell death of the cancer cells without damaging the healthy cells.

The mitochondria, which capsaicin fights so effectively, are the energy plants of the cancer cells, so to speak. They have a completely different biochemical composition than healthy cells. This is also the reason why these remain protected.

Incidentally, the cancer-inhibiting effect has been proven in various independent studies and in very different types of cancer. Accordingly, capsaicin proved to be enormously effective in prostate, breast, pancreas and lung cancer.

Strengthens the heart

Heart health also benefits greatly from a spicy diet. In a lab test, Hong Kong scientists fed two groups of hamsters a high-cholesterol diet. In addition, the researchers gave a group of hamsters the active ingredient capsaicin. After the test, the scientists examined the blood of the animals and were able to directly demonstrate two positive effects.

Capsaicin was able to support the intestines in breaking down and excreting cholesterol and thus significantly lowering cholesterol levels. Bad cholesterol, also known as LDL cholesterol, is responsible for deposits in the blood vessels and clogs the arteries. LDL cholesterol can cause strokes and heart attacks.

Capsaicin can not only lower the level of cholesterol in the blood – there is also evidence that it reduces deposits in the blood vessels. On the one hand, chilli ensures better blood flow and at the same time prevents civilization diseases such as heart attacks.

Stimulates the metabolism and supports weight loss

When we eat chilli, our body thinks it is burning itself on the food. Therefore tries to compensate for the increase in body temperature by sweating. The moisture evaporates on our skin and cools the body down again.

However, the whole process requires a lot of energy, which boosts metabolism, increases energy consumption and burns calories faster. No other spice can shed pounds as quickly as chilli the effect has even been proven on mice.

And not only that: the miracle drug capsaicin also curbs cravings and ensures a reduced desire for sweet, fatty and salty foods. For quick weight loss, all you need to do is season your dishes with a little chilli.

Incidentally, chilli capsules are not recommended, because the positive effect on weight loss is mainly due to the burning sensation in the mouth area and the irritation of the mucous membranes.

Promotes digestion and reduces the sensation of pain

Maybe you’ve already thought that you’ve just killed some of your nerve cells when eating spicy food. The good news: commercially available chilli for health is not able to do this. The fact that after a while you no longer perceive spicy food as so burning is because the nerve cells can get used to the sharpness.

The reason for this is also the chilli itself: Since your body misinterprets the situation as a burn, it releases endorphins and adrenaline. These happy hormones, in turn, ensure that you perceive pain as less intense. Especially after a heavy meal, chilli relieves nausea and feelings of fullness.

In addition, capsaicin improves blood circulation and digestion. Its pungency kills bacteria and viruses in the digestive tract, preventing diarrhea. Spicy food also causes the stomach to produce more gastric acid, thereby inhibiting the spread of pathogens.

For a good mood

The all-rounder chilli not only ensures a strong heart and good digestion, it can also lift your spirits. And that’s worth a lot: if you’re happy, you sleep better, you’re fitter in everyday life and, above all, more balanced.

Endorphins are the reason for a good mood. These are endogenous opiates that are released in the body by eating chillies. At the same time, they also ensure a higher pain tolerance.

When to Avoid Chillies

Even if the chilli has a lot of positive properties and is good for your health, it is not always recommended or for everyone. This applies, for example, to children under the age of six, they should generally avoid spicy food.

Just like any other food, the chilli can trigger an allergy. Although this happens very rarely, you should stop eating immediately if you experience the typical symptoms.

Chilli can also be used wonderfully for external use. Nevertheless, you should never apply chilli, for example in the form of oil, directly to injuries. In general, the following applies to external use: Never longer than two days. In the worst case, continuous use can damage your nerves in the long term.

If you’ve cut the chilli into small pieces, you probably know that the chilli can cause a painful burning sensation, and not just when you eat it. To save yourself worse, do not touch your face or rub your eyes after cutting. By the way, the likelihood of accidentally rubbing your eyes is significantly lower when wearing gloves.