Peppers Part II

Last week I discussed sweet peppers, and this week I will talk about hot peppers. Hot peppers are peppers like jalapeno peppers, cayenne peppers, serrano peppers and habanero peppers. There are other peppers that are hotter than these, but they are not used in cooking.

The substance in the peppers that make them hot is called capsaicin. The amount of heat is measured in Scoville units. A habanero pepper has 150,000 to 350,000 Scoville units, while a jalapeno has only 5,000.The part of the pepper that is hot are the seeds inside and the white membrane. When cooking jalapenos if you want to cut the heat, you cut out all of that.

In addition to culinary uses the hot peppers have medicinal uses as well. The substance capsaicin is a well-known pain reliever. It works by causing the sensation of heat to be registered in the brain as pain. The brain then releases endorphins. The endorphins cause a temporary elation, a sort of "high". This is good for a number of things. One of those things is relief of pain. There are a number of preparations in the forms of creams and ointments that can be applied topically to relieve arthritis pain and pain in the joints. These are available at your local drugstore.

Hot peppers are known for other things. The capsaicin is said to reduce the itching and inflammation that are caused by psoriasis.They are loaded with vitamin C, they have been touted as an aphrodisiac, they increase blood flow in the body, and speed up the metabolism. Peppers have carotenoids and flavonoids which work as antioxidants fighting free radicals. Men who use chili peppers regularly in their diet appear to have less occurrence of prostate cancer.

A word of caution. When handling hot peppers, be sure to wash your hands afterwards and keep your hands away from your eyes. You do not want the capsaicin in your eyes. Peppers are a good choice, both for eating and for health.

Check out my website at www.valerielull.com . Also my facebook page which is listed under the heading Ten Healthy Teas.

Valerie Lull, Author
Ten Healthy Teas
Lullval@clearwire.net

 

Peppers known in Latin as Capsicum annuum are members of the Solanaceae family. Other members of this family are tomatoes, potatoes and eggplant. They come in green, red, yellow, orange and purple. They are very popular for cooking and also have many health benefits. Peppers come as hot, and as sweet. Since there is so much information on peppers, I am making this a 2 part series. This week I'll discuss sweet peppers and next week hot peppers.

Peppers including bell peppers originated in Central and South America.They were given the name pepper by the Spanish explorers. In modern times they are also grown in China, Asia and North America and have been incorporated into cuisines all over the world. 

Although peppers are known for their culinary uses, they are also have many health promoting properties. They are rich in vitamins C, B6, and E,  an abundance of carotenoids, and folic acid. They contain fiber which is good for digestion.. They have flavonoids like luteolin, quercetin and zeaxanthin. Peppers have minerals like iron, copper, zinc, manganese, selenium, magnesium and manganese. The sulphur and lycopene in them have the potential to prevent cancer. Peppers also help prevent type 2 diabetes. They are good for your eyes with lutein and zeaxanthin and protect against macular degeneration.

Bell peppers are high in nutrition and low in calories, which makes them an excellent food choice for folks who are watching their weight. They can be served cut up with ranch dressing, hummus or your favorite dip. They have a crunchiness to them that is better than chips and they are healthier. Sweet peppers are an all round good choice when it comes to food. 

Check out my web site at www.valerielull.com  My book  Ten healthy teas, is available at a discount from www.outskirtspress.com/bookstore Go to the link and check it out.

Valerie Lull, Author
Ten Healthy Teas
lullval@clearwire.net