What else can capsaicin do besides losing weight?

Cayenne peppers come from the genus Capsicum in the Solanaceae family. Also known as bell peppers, bell peppers or long peppers, they are a shrub plant that grows in the tropics. Cayenne peppers have different levels of spiciness, ranging from mild and slightly spicy (such as red bell pepper powder) to medium and even hot, with a variety of tastes. The factor that determines the spiciness level is the amount of capsaicin. The higher the capsaicin content, the spicier it is.

1. Benefits of capsaicin for pain relief

Capsaicin has been extensively studied for decades. Creams and gels containing capsaicin are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used to relieve joint problems, post-herpetic neuralgia, and diabetes neuropathy.
Whether applied to the skin or taken orally, capsaicin may cause nerve cells to release pain-causing substances. This immediate reaction may cause irritation to the body, but if used repeatedly, capsaicin may deplete the pain-causing substances in nerve fibers. Therefore, repeated intake of capsaicin may offset the pain caused by ingestion. Repeated intake may make the body tolerant to capsaicin. In other words, the more peppers you eat, the less spicy they are. This may be nature's unique way of helping us when we want to make full use of the health benefits of capsaicin. There is also an exciting phenomenon that occurs when spicy food is frequently consumed. Capsaicin may activate brain centers that induce cravings for spicy food. Studies have revealed that when subjects who crave spicy food are shown photos of similar ingredients, they show greater activity in neural pathways and brain areas related to physiological arousal, food cravings, and drug addiction. Spicy people's brain wave patterns also showed some interesting responses, indicating that brain activity is optimized. Other studies have shown that there are multiple mechanisms that may allow spicy food to provide benefits to brain function as we age.

2. Benefits of Capsaicin for the Gastrointestinal tract

Intake of spicy food may stimulate and strengthen gastrointestinal function. A study from the New England Journal of Medicine revealed this finding.The study showed that subjects with long-term gastrointestinal disorders had significantly reduced gastrointestinal discomfort symptoms after consuming 2.5 grams of cayenne pepper before meals. Compared with the placebo group, the group that consumed cayenne pepper before meals was likely to reduce gastrointestinal discomfort symptoms such as nausea, stomach pain, bloating, and overall symptom scores by about 50%.
Interestingly, people often believe that spicy foods will increase gastric irritation and choose to avoid them as much as possible, but medical research has proven that this is not the case. Medical research shows that consuming cayenne pepper may help prevent stomach damage, relieve abdominal pain, fullness, and nausea in patients with poor gastrointestinal function, and have a conditioning effect on irritable bowel syndrome.
As mentioned above, many people are undoubtedly concerned about consuming cayenne pepper. The positive side is that if they start with mild red bell pepper powder and gradually build tolerance, they can one day take full advantage of the beneficial effects of capsaicin on the gastric mucosa.

3. Cardiovascular benefits of capsaicin

Cayenne pepper may also have beneficial effects on the heart and blood vessels. Capsaicin may play a certain role in preventing atherosclerosis (or hardening of arteries).Diets rich in capsaicin may reduce the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. However, its beneficial effects go beyond that. Capsaicin may increase fibrinolytic activity, thereby preventing the formation of blood clots that can cause heart attacks or strokes. This effect may explain why heart attacks and strokes are generally lower in some areas where the diet is rich in chili peppers.

4. Benefits of Capsaicin for Weight Management

A diet rich in capsaicin also plays a positive role in weight management. Increasing the intake of cayenne peppers may increase the basal metabolic rate and help burn fat. Studies show that adding chili peppers to the diet is a safe and natural way to consume capsaicin, which may regulate metabolism, enhance fat burning to generate more energy, and control blood glucose.

How to Eat Cayenne Peppers

Cayenne peppers can be eaten whole after being freshly picked, or they can be chopped and cooked. Grinding it into chili powder after drying it also has a unique flavor as a seasoning. Ground cayenne pepper can be stored for up to one year in a sealed glass container, and try to avoid direct sunlight.
To get more capsaicin, here are some recommended ways to consume it:

1. Keep a small seasoning bottle on the table and fill it with chili powder, which can be added to dishes at any time as needed.

2. Alternatively, add a pinch of chili powder to hot cocoa and stir well. The combination of sweetness and spiciness may give you a fresh taste stimulation.

3. Adding cayenne pepper to any food, even a little bit, will increase the spicy and refreshing feeling of the food.

4. You can also add 0.25 teaspoon of chili powder and two tablespoons of lemon juice to three cups of blanched kale or mustard greens, and stir well to make a delicious and special fruit and vegetable smoothie.