Everyone knows about the spicy nature of the red chili which adds on heat and flavor to any meal. Besides giving spicy flavor, chilies add some nutritive elements to the food. Chili pepper is belonging to the family of foods, Solanaceae. A culinary spice, red chili is a powerhouse of nutrition. It contains vitamin C and carotene in high amount. Green and yellow chilies contain a significantly lower amount of vitamin C and carotene. Red chilies are also packed with an assortment of vitamins A, B and minerals that can help to heal a variety of illnesses from having some antioxidant factors to cancer-fighting agents. Red chilies have so many health benefits.

Chili peppers are hundreds of types that vary in shape, size, flavor, color and "hotness." Red chilies are essential to eat for its medicinal properties. Its medicinal value is directly associated to the vast array of chemical compounds that present in the spice. They are famous for stimulating appetite and also for boosting blood circulation. Other health benefits of chili include pain relief, fighting inflammation, cardiovascular health, cold and flu protection, weight loss and cancer prevention.

Red Chili Nutrition

Red chili peppers are an excellent source of vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene. One regular chili has 10% of the daily recommended value of vitamin A. As well, they are very high in vitamin C; one red chili pepper contains over 100% of the daily recommended value. They are also a good source of minerals such as copper, manganese, iron, magnesium and potassium.

Health benefits of Red Chili

Fight Inflammation

Red Chili has the ability to fight against inflammation. The anti-inflammatory substance, Capsaicin found in red chili inhibits neuropeptide related with inflammatory processes. The amount of capsaicin contained in each chili has same proportion to its level of hotness. As it fights inflammation, it is used to treat some disorders like arthritis, psoriasis, and diabetic neuropathy. Ointments or creams containing capsaicin are utilized to treat arthritic pain.

Helps to Clear Congestion

Besides reducing pain, red chilies’ peppery heat stimulates secretions that help to clear out nasal and sinus congestion by clearing the mucus from stuffed nose or congested lungs.

Boosts Immunity 

Foods rich in vitamin C help to boost the immune system. Red chilies have immunity boosting vitamins like vitamin A, B and C; all of which help to protect against certain pathogens that is responsible for disease. Vitamin C helps to treat Colds and Flu and to ward off symptoms of influenza. Vitamin A, the anti-infection vitamin is necessary for healthy mucous membranes, which line the lungs, nasal passages, urinary tract and intestinal tract. Thus, it serves as the body's first line of protection against attacking pathogens.

Cardiovascular Health

Red chili peppers have been shown to help decrease blood cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, as well as platelet aggregation. As well, it raises the body's capability to dissolve fibrin, which is an essential substance for the formation of blood clots.

Weight Loss

After eating red chili peppers, all that heat you feel consumes a lot of energy and calories to generate, which means red chilies have a thermogenic (heat production) effect, same way as exercise does. As well, red chili peppers help to accelerate digestion and metabolism.

Cancer Protection

Capsaicin found in red chili peppers prevents the spreading of prostate cancer cells by a variety of mechanisms. Maybe, it works by inhibiting the expression of PSA (prostate specific antigen). Red chili peppers also help to prevent stomach ulcers by killing bacteria that you have ingested. As well, they stimulate the stomach lining cells to secrete defensive buffering juices.