Pepper is one vegetable not much talked about when it comes to nutrition in vegetables. We mostly consider it’s spiciness as the preferred and most noticeable attribute. The fact many are less aware or have not taken the chance to consider hot pepper health benefits.
Hot peppers are highly nutritious. Rich in vitamins A, C and E with many other immense Hot Pepper Health Benefits.
First, let us look at the nutrition facts about hot peppers.
| Principle | Nutrient Value | Percentage of RDA |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 318 Kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 56.63 g | 43% |
| Protein | 12.01 g | 21% |
| Total Fat | 17.27 g | 57.56% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 27.2 g | 71% |
| Vitamins | ||
| Folates | 106 mcg | 26% |
| Niacin | 8.701 mg | 54% |
| Pyridoxine | 2.450 mg | 39% |
| Riboflavin | 0.919 | 71% |
| Thiamin | 0.328 mg | 27% |
| Vitamin A | 41610 IU | 1387% |
| Vitamin C | 76.4 mg | 127% |
| Vitamin E | 29.83 mg | 199% |
| Vitamin K | 80.3 mg | 67% |
| Electrolytes | ||
| Sodium | 30 mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 2014 mg | 43% |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium | 148 mg | 15 % |
| Copper | 0.373 mg | 41% |
| Iron | 7.80 mg | 97.5% |
| Magnesium | 152 mg | 38% |
| Manganese | 2.00 mg | 87% |
| Phosphorus | 293 mg | 42% |
| Selenium | 8.8 mcg | 18% |
| Zinc | 2.48 mg | 22.5% |
| Phyto-nutrients | ||
| Carotene-Ăź | 21840 µg | — |
| Carotene-α | 0 µg | — |
| Cryptoxanthin-Ăź | 6252 µg | — |
| Lutein-zeaxanthin | 13157 µg | — |
| (Source: USDA National Nutrient database) |
Hot Pepper Health Benefits
1. Promotes Weight Loss
When you consume hot peppers, your metabolic rate increase by generating a thermogenic process in the body. This process generates heat and uses energy. This, therefore, burns more calories. More so, consuming hot peppers at breakfast suppresses appetite for the rest of the day. This ultimately aids in losing weight.
2. Reduces Cancer Risk
Capsaicin in pepper has anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties and so has the potential to fight cancer. It reduces the growth of prostate cancer cell while unharming normal cells. The consumption of large quantities of peppers is effective in fighting breast, pancreatic and bladder cancers.
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3. Promotes Healthy Heart
When you consume pepper, it dilates your blood vessels and helps in blood flow. The consumption of pepper lowers blood serum cholesterol and reduces lipids deposits and so reduces excessive blood clotting. This is very helpful to the circulatory system and the prevention of heart disease. This is one of the major hot pepper health benefits.
4. Reduces Migraines
When you consume hot peppers the body is made insensitive to a migraine and all sensation of pain is reduced.
This is how pepperhead.com explains the phenomenon. That you have a pain on your body that has been your sole focus until another pain that was even worse. Your brain focuses on the new one and the original pain simply disappears.
5. Prevents Allergies
The consumption of hot peppers can help prevent allergies and symptoms from allergies due to the anti-inflammatory properties of capsaicin.
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6. Relieves Joint Pain
The capsaicin in peppers has some powerful pain-relieving properties. When applied to the skin, it reduces the ingredient that sends pain messages to the brain (Chemical P). The pain receptors exhaust themselves by depleting the body reserves. The capsaicin then acts as a pain reliever.
7. Helps Digestive tract
The capsaicin in peppers acts as an anti-irritant. This, according to research makes peppers beneficial to people with ulcers. The pepper powder contains trace amounts of anti-oxidants and other chemicals which helps heal stomach upset, reduce intestinal gas, cures diarrhoea and act as a natural remedy for cramps.
Peppers reduce acidity that causes ulcers in the digestive tract. Peppers also stimulates the production of saliva and gastric juices that help indigestion.
8. Suppress Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an itchy skin condition that results in some unpleasant skin patches. Capsaicin cream significantly reduces the number of cells to replicating and aids in the reversal of the auto-immune skin lesions.
Read also: 11 Amazing Health Benefits of Ginger and Nutrition Facts
9. Fights the Flu, Colds and Fungal Infections
Hot peppers contain high amounts of beta-carotene and antioxidants. These boost the immune system and help in the healing of colds and flu. The increase in body temperature from the ingestion of hot peppers activates the immune system into action in fighting the norovirus (cold), flu viruses.
10. Prevents Bad Breath
Eating hot pepper powder clears your breath and improves the odour of your breath.
11. Source of Vitamin A
Hot peppers contain adequate amounts of Vitamin A. Vitamin A helps to keep up a healthy vision, neurological function and skin. It is also an antioxidant that reduces inflammation by fighting free radicals. Antioxidants are very important for good health and longevity. The boost eye health, immunity and foster cell growth.
12. Source of Vitamin E
Vitamin E is also one nutrient fully abundant in hot peppers. It helps many organs in the body to function properly. It is also very important in slowing the ageing process. Moreover, the vitamin holds the ability to balance cholesterol, fight free radicals, repair damaged skin and hair, balance hormones, improve vision and increase energy levels.
Is there something we didn’t add to the Hot Pepper Health Benefits?
References:
10 Amazing Health Benefits to Eating Hot Peppers (pepperhead.com)
Cayenne Pepper Benefits Your Gut, Heart & Beyond (draxe.com)
