Are you a fan of red hot chili peppers? No, not the band! We mean the spicy vegetable! Well, we’ve got good news for you – chili peppers are super healthy. There are all kinds of chili peppers out there, such as cayenne and jalapenos. While they’re most often used as spices, or are eaten cooked, dried, or powered, chilies have medicinal properties. Fresh peppers are basically 88& of water and 9% of carbohydrates. Bottom line, chili peppers are rich in many vitamins and minerals – just take a look below at all the health benefits these spicy guys provide. You’ll be surprised by how much they can do!
Health Benefits of Chili Peppers:
1. Chili peppers have tons of plant derived chemical compounds that have been proven to contain disease preventing and health promoting properties.
2. Chilies also contain an alkaloid compound, capsaicin, which makes them strong and spicy. Some studies have suggested that capsaicin has anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic and anti-diabetic properties. Moreover it can also reduce LDL cholesterol levels when it comes to obesity.
3. Fresh chili peppers, like red and green, are actually an excellent source of vitamin-C. Take that oranges! 100 g of fresh chilies will provide about 240% of the RDA. Vitamin-C is also a water-soluble antioxidant which is essential for the collagen synthesis inside our bodies. Collagen is also one of the main structural proteins that requires maintaining the blood vessels, skin, organs, and bones integrity. Vitamin-C consumption helps to develop resistance against those pesky infectious agents as it boosts immunity. Don’t reach for some OJ next time a cold is coming on, eat some peppers instead!
4. They are loaded with antioxidants vitamin-A, and flavonoids such as β-carotene, α-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and cryptoxanthin. These antioxidant substances in capsicum will help to protect the body from disastrous effects of free radicals that are generated during stress.
5. Chilies also are full of potassium, manganese, iron, and magnesium. Potassium is such a crucial component of cell and body fluids which help to control heart rate and blood pressure. Our bodies use manganese as a co-factor when it comes the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.
6. Finally, Chilies are great in the B-complex group of vitamins like niacin, pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), riboflavin and thiamin (vitamin B-1). These vitamins are super essential as our body requires them from external sources to then replenish.