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The Amazing Health Benefits of Cayenne Peppers - Reaper Robs

The Amazing Health Benefits of Cayenne Peppers

Posted on April 28 2023, By: Reaper Robs

The Amazing Health Benefits of Cayenne Peppers - Reaper Robs
Did you know there are a number of amazing health benefits of cayenne peppers - all good reasons to spice up your life! If you're looking to add a little spice to your life the cayenne pepper may be just what the doctor ordered. This popular red pepper adds versatile flavor to your meals and is chock-full of health benefits to boot.

What is cayenne pepper?
Cayenne peppers are long, skinny peppers with a glossy, cherry-red hue. Officially known as Capsicum annum, these pungent peppers are members of the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, along with their distant cousins, potatoes, eggplants and tomatoes. Cayenne peppers are thought to have originated in South America, but their easygoing spice has made them a popular addition to cuisines around the world. 

Cayenne peppers have a hot-but-not-too-hot level of kick. If you’re a spicy food fan, you might be familiar with the Scoville scale. This scale measures the heat of a chili pepper, from unspicy bell peppers at one end to burn-your-face-off ghost peppers and Carolina reapers at the other. A jalapeño pepper packs about 5,000 Scoville Heat Units, while a cayenne pepper is more like 30,000 to 50,000. Cayenne peppers are obviously quite a bit hotter than a jalapeño pepper.

Is cayenne pepper healthy?
Like most colorful produce, cayenne peppers are a good source of nutrients. In particular, they are rich in: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin K. One fresh pepper has 72% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C and 50% of vitamin A. The health benefits of cayenne peppers go well beyond their vitamin content. Many of their benefits come from capsaicin, the natural compound that gives all peppers their spicy kick.

Let's uncover the benefits of the cayenne pepper.

1. Provides beneficial plant compounds - Cayenne peppers are fantastic sources of antioxidants and other plant compounds that protect our cells and promote health. A diet rich in antioxidants can help ward off diseases, including heart disease and certain types of cancers. And cayenne peppers are a particularly good source of these superstar compounds.
2. Protects your heart - Cayenne peppers can protect heart health in several ways. There’s evidence, for instance, that capsaicin can protect against inflammation in your body. Researchers found that people who regularly ate chili peppers were 13% less likely to die than people who avoided spicy fare. The reason? Spice lovers had a lower risk of heart-related diseases like heart attacks and strokes.
3. Improves digestion - Lots of people associate spicy foods with heartburn or an upset stomach. But for many people, spice can have the opposite effect. There’s also evidence that spicy foods like cayenne peppers can boost the good bacteria in your gut. The microbiome is a community of bacteria in your gut that are important for a healthy immune system. Capsaicin may help promote a healthy microbiome.
4. Maintain a healthy weight - Cayenne peppers and other capsaicin-containing spicy foods may help with weight loss. Spicy foods can rev up the metabolism a bit, helping burn calories. It can also help you feel fuller after eating.
5. Ease pain and clear congestion - Some evidence suggests that spicy peppers are good for an achy (or stuffy) head. Capsaicin is also used in topical form to treat pain. Creams made from the potent spice can be rubbed on your skin to treat arthritis pain.

How to use cayenne pepper - Well we're obviously biased here at Reaper Robs and we would recommended adding our Classic Cayenne Hot Sauce as a flavor enhancement to any dish but... fresh or powdered, cayenne pepper is a super addition to your diet and makes it a great choice for spice novices who are just dipping their toe into the world of hot peppers.

Bon appétit!

Credit and inspiration from Cleveland Clinic - Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper

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