Adding cayenne pepper, or capsicum, to your diet can prove to be very beneficial to your health. Cayenne pepper has been used both for culinary and therapeutic purposes for centuries in many parts of the world. It contains capsaicin, the substance that makes the pepper spicy. Capsaicin has many therapeutic properties and is used to treat a wide range of diseases.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is grown all around the world and is used to add zest to most dishes. This pepper is a rich source of potassium, calcium and vitamins such as beta-carotene, B-complexes, vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin C. It has health benefits if taken internally or applied topically. It inhibits pain nerves when applied to the skin and when taken internally, it can cure you of many diseases.
1. Cayenne Pepper and the Heart
Cayenne pepper removes the plaque adhering to arteries and cleans them. You can help a person from suffering from a heart attack by giving him cayenne pepper in a cup of water. It supplies vital nutrients to the heart, raises the body temperature, improves blood circulation by thinning the blood, removes toxins from the blood and rebuilds blood cells.
2. Cayenne Pepper and Hypertension
Cayenne pepper helps to make blood pressure levels normal. It regulates the flow of blood from the head to the foot and equalizes blood pressure. It also equalizes blood pressure in the arteries and veins instantly. It removes blockages present in the arteries and thus, improves the flow of blood. Since cayenne pepper reduces the risk of arthrosclerosis, it simultaneously lowers the risk of hypertension.
3. Cayenne Pepper and Cancer
The capsaicin in cayenne pepper has the ability to kill cancer cells. Cayenne pepper can therefore help in the treatment of leukemia and cancers of the lungs, pancreas and prostate gland. Research shows that capsaicin causes cancer cells to kill themselves in a process known as apoptosis.
4. Cholesterol Levels and Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper rids the body of LDL (bad) cholesterol.
5. Digestive Problems and Cayenne Pepper
Although cayenne pepper is spicy, it heals stomach and intestinal ulcers. It improves digestion by stimulating the peristaltic movement of the intestines. It heals digestive problems such as abdominal cramps, acidity and gas. It also helps in the excretion of urine and feces.
6. Relief from Arthritic Pain
The capsaicin present in cayenne pepper works on the sensory nerves and relieves pain caused by rheumatism and arthritis.
7. Cayenne Pepper and Infections
Cayenne pepper has antifungal properties and can help you fight fungal infections. It’s useful in treating respiratory infections such as sore throats.
8. Other Benefits
Cayenne pepper has thermogenic properties and putting it in shoes and socks is effective in preventing frostbite in extremely cold weather. Putting cayenne pepper powder directly into a bleeding wound can stop it from bleeding and will help the wound to heal without a scar or with a minimal scar formation. Cayenne pepper helps in controlling allergic reactions, cures heartburn, headaches and colds, and sore throats caused by scarlet fever. It provides relief from toothache, treats snake bites, reduces fever and migraines, prevents and treats blood clots and stimulates the appetite. It also helps you to lose weight.
Cayenne pepper is indeed a prince among all other herbs.
