The name of the product “hot pepper” is familiar to many people on the planet, because it is used everywhere. The vegetable is successfully used both in the kitchen and for medicinal purposes. Knowing the benefits of this plant, you can prevent some diseases in advance; just add a little “spicy” to your menu.
To know what we will talk about next, let's start by defining what it is. First of all, it is a plant of the nightshade family of the genus Capsicum, and secondly, it is already a component for cooking or a spicy seasoning.
Other names for the vegetable are “chili”, “hot pepper”. By the way, we are accustomed to comparing the name “chile” with the state of the same name, but in fact this expression means “red” and first came to us from the Indians of Mexico - from the Aztec language.
The terrestrial plant looks like a shoot up to 70 centimeters long with oval leaves. Vegetable flowers can be of different colors - from white to gray and even purple. Therefore, the color of the pepper itself can be different - red, yellow, green, black and red.
Cone-shaped hot pepper
But we cannot call every pepper “chili”, based on the fact that not all types are red. The shape of the final fruit can vary in length, trunk-like, sometimes slightly elongated, sometimes blunt, wrinkled, with a tail, and even similar to a round fruit.
The taste of the vegetable is at odds with the intolerable spiciness. Therefore, you need to add it to dishes with extreme caution, working with gloves. The hottest parts of pepper are its seeds and veins; they are not used and thrown away.
The greatest use of hot pepper for medical purposes is the production of plasters, ointments, and tinctures. Thanks to its warming properties, this product is able to fight many ailments. But more on that later, but do you want to know where this miracle pepper came from and what its varieties are?
History and varieties
The perennial plant was first found in America, that is, it grew wild there. The plant, as it turned out later, even had its own goddess Chantico . After the discovery of pepper by Columbus, who sought to find black pepper and brought an amazing spice to Europeans, the culture spread throughout the world.
It was first seen by the Spaniards , and then by Asians. Now pepper has found its use anywhere in the world. We use it as an annual plant, planting it on the windowsills of apartments and houses, growing it in the garden, and then using it for various purposes.
The taste and aroma of individual varieties of hot peppers vary. But the amount of a substance called capsaicin significantly affects the hotness of peppers. It is an alkaloid, or more simply put, a colorless substance that adds pungency. There are medium and strong pungency. Peppers are also divided into 5 main types, from which a huge number of varieties have been developed:
- Capsicum annuum – capsicums with a moderately hot taste
- Capsicum chinense - the hottest varieties
- Capsicum baccatum has a mildly pungent taste
- Capsicum frutescens – quite hot, like the Tabasco variety
- Capsicum pubescense is mostly wild and not popular species
The first category is represented by varieties of different shapes. The taste itself is pleasant with a slight bitterness, but it can be without it, because green bell pepper also belongs to the annuum species. This includes cayenne chili peppers, which are ready for use after special processing, as well as Jalapenos.
But in medicine, only the hottest varieties of chinense are used, determined by a special scale as a percentage. Considering each variety based on its pungency, one can make a fairly large rating of such species, because in addition to the main ones, there are also 25 wild species, and many, many artificially bred varieties.
Variety of hot peppers
Madame Jeanette and chili
Does the name “Madame Jeannette” mean anything to you? If you taste this fiery vegetable, the comparison comes with a hot red color, but this is by no means the case. This variety has a bright yellow color, without aroma and a specific taste - only pungency. Is hot pepper with such a “taste” healthy? We think yes, because it still contains the same capsaicin.
The hottest pepper on the planet
If you want to know which is the hottest pepper in the world, this is the Indian Naga, the capsaicin levels in it reach 200 thousand, and the hottest pepper listed in the Guinness Book of Records is the Carolina Reaper. That's where the real hot chili taste comes in!
Carolina Reaper
Surprisingly, the benefits of the Carolina Reaper hot red pepper are very questionable, but there are always daredevils who want to try the record holder, whose pungency is up to 2.2 million units. But to a greater extent, the caustic substance extracted from peppers is used to make tear gas.
Amazingly weird type of chili
Another very interesting type of chili is red hot pepper, the beneficial properties of which are difficult to underestimate by looking at the photo. This species was also originally found in America (Peru), and was first used in Texas, where it is still well cultivated.
Chili Willie Pepper
On the Scoville scale, the heat of Peter pepper or Willy's chili is 10,000-23,000 capsaicin units . And this is noticeably a lot, as you understand. For comparison, you can take the famous Habaneros, the pungency of which ranges from 100 thousand.
True, the Chili Willie pepper, as it is called, is used mainly for decorative purposes due to the similarity of the shape to the male dignity, but in a miniature form. How we got this variety remains a mystery, but we will continue to talk about the beneficial qualities of hot pepper.
Variety "Chocolate Habanero"
The benefits of hot peppers for the body
Properties and chemical composition of 100 grams of hot pepper:
- Hot red peppers, like other foods, are made up of carbohydrates, fats and proteins;
- Beta carotene, which kills cancer cells and vitamin A;
- Hot peppers are rich in vitamin B6, which increases performance and has a positive effect on the nervous system;
- Vitamin C, that is, ascorbic acid, contains as much as 144 mg;
- Capsaicin in the amount of 6 mg. improves digestion and increases appetite ;
- Contains magnesium – 23 mg, potassium – 322 mg, iron – 620 mg;
- Essential oils in some small quantities.
Negative properties
This article discusses in detail the benefits and harms of red pepper. It, like any other product, has contraindications for use. Experts do not recommend using it for those who suffer from intestinal and stomach diseases. There is also a possibility of an allergic reaction to a certain type of pepper.
Its composition is quite aggressive. In order to eliminate the risk of complications, pepper should be consumed in small doses. In addition, there may be benefits and harms to the eyes from a product such as red pepper. Malysheva, a famous TV presenter, spoke about this in detail in her program. Try to exclude the possibility of the spice getting on the mucous membrane.
Medical use
In medicine, as we have already said, only the fruits of pungent species are used. Alcohol tinctures, warming plasters - pepper patches, solutions - are prepared from them. The latter are added as a warming component to water (foot baths). And pepper patches help cope with colds and bronchitis.
You can also buy products in pharmacies for rubbing into the scalp for enhanced hair growth. In addition, the beneficial properties of hot pepper can be used in the following cases described below.
Benefits of chili pepper in cancer treatment
Since red or other hot peppers have antioxidant properties and a bactericidal effect, the fruits of the plant can completely cleanse the body of free radicals. This means rejuvenation of the body, cleansing .
And on top of everything else, there is a fight against tumor cells. This assumption was confirmed by professors from the University of Nottingham. Hot peppers are useful in treating cancer and preventing the formation of tumors.
Hot peppers as a pain reliever
The pain-relieving properties of this product have been known for a long time, so the doctor may prescribe a pepper patch to the damaged area of the body that hurts. Tinctures and capsules with the pepper extract capsaicin are also actively used.
But medicine has not yet fully recognized the fact that pepper extract is a good pain reliever for an area of the body and can be used in pain-relieving tablets . Perhaps, in particular, due to the addiction to the effect of the drug on neurons. Health workers attribute the drug to a more distracting and warming effect than an analgesic one.
Chili pepper for a good night's sleep and more
Spicy pepper will help you fight insomnia and fall asleep peacefully. At least that's what scientists from the University of Tasmania say. They advise adding very little red pepper to your food and eating spicy foods at least once a week.
Hot pepper, the benefits of which are fully justified in the fight against insomnia, is also obvious for men . Who can stay awake all night after eating the fruit and have an active sex life. It's all about increasing testosterone, and therefore potency.
Chili pepper benefits in treating diabetes
But scientists from a Canadian hospital in Toronto, studying animals, discovered amazing facts - it is possible to cure diabetes of the first form . When pepper is added to food, capsaicin affects the nerve endings of the pancreas; in addition, it has the ability to break down fats and improve water metabolism.
Only when consuming it is necessary to control your blood sugar levels. In any case, there has not yet been a definitive study on humans, but it is known that eating hot peppers in moderation has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
Are red hot peppers good for asthma?
There is an assumption that the product will help asthmatics, because histamine, which causes coughing, disappears by almost half when inhaling the pepper aroma.
This opinion was put forward by scientists from an Indian university who conducted an experiment among daredevils. Some of them were given a placebo to smell, others were given real pepper, and the second had a noticeable reduction in seizures. But some experienced severe burning in the eyes and throat that went away the next day.
Perhaps with more research, scientists can help allergy sufferers with asthma attacks, and it would be good to conduct such studies. The difficulty is that inhaling such an aroma can provoke pulmonary edema if you are not careful . So the cough issue remains open.
Help with bleeding
What do you think are the benefits of hot red pepper? The properties of pepper to stop bleeding have been known for a long time, so tincture or extract of red pepper will help quickly cope with this condition. Consumption of the product has a positive effect on the hematopoietic system - strengthening blood vessels and heart muscle .
Application in cosmetology
Red pepper has found its use in cosmetology; it is useful for strengthening and growing hair, nails, and even facial skin can be taken care of with its help. Pepper activates blood circulation, normalizes metabolic processes, strengthens blood vessels, fights rashes, rejuvenates and refreshes the skin.
Face masks:
- Alcohol and oil tinctures of pepper are used - a few drops are added to regular skin care products: creams, masks, tonics, lotions. Red pepper in its pure form is difficult to wash off the skin and the burning sensation can last a long time.
- Take half a teaspoon of ground pepper and combine with melted wax and olive oil (tsp each). Apply the product to cleansed and damp skin, leave for 20 minutes, then rinse and moisturize the skin with a nourishing cream.
pepper is used to prepare alcohol tinctures and hair masks that prevent massive hair loss
Strengthening hair masks:
- To prepare the product you will need a pinch of red pepper, one egg yolk, tbsp. l. olive oil, 2 tbsp. l. cognac and lemon juice. Mix all the ingredients and apply to hair, warm and leave for 30 minutes, then rinse your hair with shampoo.
- Two pepper pods and 250 ml. vodka is infused for three weeks, filtered and rubbed into the roots of the hair. Leave for 20 minutes and wash your hair with shampoo. Carry out the procedure no more than once a week.
Mask for baldness:
- take a pinch of ground pepper and salt in equal quantities;
- mix and rub into bald spots;
- wrap and hold for 20 minutes.
The procedure accelerates blood circulation, nourishes follicles and stimulates hair growth.
alcohol tincture of red pepper is popularly called “pepper”
How to make a tincture
An alcoholic tincture of red pepper for medicinal purposes is taken orally in small portions and used for external use in the form of compresses for joint and muscle pain.
- combine crushed pepper with vodka or alcohol in a ratio of 1:5;
- leave for two weeks, shaking the contents periodically;
- take up to 3 times a day before meals.
Red hot pepper is not only an excellent seasoning, but also a good medicinal and cosmetic product. Its regular use increases the length and quality of life, strengthens the immune system and health, gives youth and beauty.
Hot pepper prolongs life
It can be assumed that the hot product has a rejuvenating effect on the human body, as it even fights cancer cells. Research by Chinese scientists speaks about positive facts in favor of pepper.
They suggest that people who add a little red pepper to their food once a week get sick less and live longer. True, this rule does not apply to lovers of beer with spicy chips, as well as those who periodically drink alcohol.
Use in cooking
a girl tries hot pepper
. It has been noticed that those who eat hot pepper every day always look amazing and rarely get sick . We mean Indians, Thais, Mexicans... Some people are perplexed - how can you get used to eating hot peppers every day? It's simple - at first you don't feel the taste, just bitterness. If the spiciness doesn't put you off, after a few days the taste develops and you feel the whole gamut of shades and aromas of pepper.
Hot peppers are used mainly as a spice. We most combine it in this particular set: garlic, basil, bay leaf, coriander, thyme. The spice is added to sauces, all kinds of soups, borscht, vegetable dishes, meat and fish dishes. Fresh pepper is most often used in marinades; canned cucumbers with it are much more piquant and tasty.
Pepper is also added to kefir, yogurt and matsoni. Red peppers and green hot peppers (less hot) can be dried and frozen. The main condition before this is to lightly fry the fruits or put them in boiling water for a few minutes.
Application
Hot peppers are often used to prepare various dishes. In cooking it is used in two forms:
- ground – as a seasoning for hot dishes, soups, fish, salads, marinades;
- fresh - mainly used for fish and meat dishes and in vegetable salads.
Attention ! When working with hot peppers, use gloves; do not touch your eyes and nose while cooking.
Due to its beneficial properties, hot pepper is also used in folk medicine. The most common type of use is alcohol tincture . It is universal in use and easy to prepare.
To prepare an alcohol tincture, you will need 0.5 liters of 90% alcohol and 6 pods of hot pepper. Grind the pods in a meat grinder and add alcohol. After this, put it in a dark place and let it sit for two weeks, shaking the container with the solution daily. After the specified time has passed, strain through cheesecloth or a sieve.
This tincture is suitable for both external and internal use:
- as compresses for muscle spasms, gout and rheumatism, to stimulate hair growth and eliminate cellulite. An alcohol compress on the feet also helps with a runny nose;
- internal use involves diluting the tincture in proportions of 10-15 drops per 50 ml of water. The solution must be consumed 15 minutes before meals. In this case, the tincture will help with diarrhea, colds and other disorders. Before using it, you should consult your doctor.
Hot pepper benefits and harm to the body
There is a myth that pregnant women and nursing mothers are absolutely contraindicated from eating chili peppers and other hot types. We hasten to dispel these speculations, because a small portion of spice does not harm a pregnant woman’s body at all, but on the contrary, it helps to lift the mood and improve health. A miscarriage is possible if a woman abuses ostrichka, as flatulence can lead to uterine tone. That's all the wisdom.
If a diabetic patient takes other medications - insulin, inhibitors, aspirin, the interaction of the pepper supplement may have negative consequences. Doctors do not recommend eating pepper for older people, nor for children under 12 years of age due to their age.
Here are a number of other cases when consuming red hot pepper has no benefit at all, and the harm is obvious:
- For gastritis and stomach ulcers;
- With increased levels of stomach acidity.
Hot peppers are too hot, so the need to cook with them while wearing gloves is nothing more than a precaution. After all, it can easily cause skin irritation. If this happens, lubricate the wounds with vegetable oil, after rinsing the burns with cool water.
If the dish turns out to be too spicy, sprinkle it with lemon juice to neutralize the spice. If you ingest a spice, inhale it, or get an internal burn from hot pepper, you must eat yogurt or put out the “fire” with lemon.
In any case, the beneficial effect of hot peppers predominates, and now you know how hot capsicums are useful, you should definitely take a closer look at this spice and introduce it into your diet, and also eat it raw, because this way you will get even more valuable vitamins.
Immunity and beauty
It should be noted that there is one more wonderful property that red hot pepper is endowed with. The benefits and harms of the plant also apply to cosmetology. This product promotes hair growth and also improves blood circulation in the area of the nail plate, and this will certainly affect the quality and speed of nail growth. Chili peppers can strengthen the immune system, alleviate a person’s condition with asthma, and improve well-being with bronchitis and sore throat.
The seasoning in question stabilizes and improves metabolism, and this helps with weight loss. The spice also lowers cholesterol levels, although its excess can negatively affect the mucous membranes and cause heartburn, so you should not eat too much pepper. Red pepper, the benefits and harms of which are described in detail in this article, is unique in its composition. It contains a lot of vitamins K, A and C, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and zinc. In addition, it is rich in sugars, fatty oils, capsorubin, and carotenoids. Antioxidants are able to protect cells from various deformations and damage, and stop degenerative processes associated with age. The spice can prevent cancer. For asthma and arthritis, it will reduce inflammation.
