The next time you want to curse the gods for inventing hot and spicy foods, think again. Chili peppers may just be the new-age panacea for all our illnesses. So if you like Mexican or Indian food, you don't have to feel so guilty about your spicy diet anymore.
There are many kinds of chili peppers around the world, and most of them have a chemical compound called capsaicin, which comes loaded with incredible medicinal powers. Some are being harnessed to be used in medicines, but the breakthrough is more in how they are becoming an intrinsic part of our regular diet.
Chili peppers are expanding their popularity base from the kitchen condiment section right onto the nutrition platter. Research and studies have proven their innate goodness for the human body and their ability to combat many diseases naturally. They are part of the new food brigade that helps people live healthy without too much effort. Chili peppers can help people lose weight as well as prevent serious health conditions like heart or digestive issues.
There is an increasing awareness and demand for natural foods, all of which come with some intrinsic goodness or the other. The rising figures in natural and organic food sales promise a healthy future, for consumers and businesses in North America as they look at a $50 billion market by 2018.
Leading natural food brands like Whole Foods have been forced to acknowledge increasing competition from brands like Kroger and Sprouts, pushing up the bar to a new high. These developments simply prove what our forefathers were smart enough to know and what we forgot — that nature has the answers for our health right in its bounty.
From habaneros and jalapenos to bell peppers and green chilies, all have something beneficial for our health. The degree of capsaicin differs from one to another — the higher its presence, the better the chances of diet-induced thermogenesis, for which all peppers are known.
Thermogenesis naturally oxidizes fat and burns up calories, while the low glycemic index of the peppers creates a great balance for the other foods taken in by the body. It spikes up body heat to burn calories and works as natural appetite suppressant. So instead of storing fat like other foods do, peppers are actively going to help one's body burn up calories.
How do peppers affect us?
When you eat a spicy pepper, at first you feel a sting, then you feel the heat and taste explode in your mouth. What happens internally is that the pain receptors in the mouth send a signal to the brain that increases the heart rate, which lets the endorphins kick in and sweat out the heat.
The system is spiked, so your metabolic rate is faster, which allows the body to work on the carbohydrates and break them down for faster digestion. The core body temperature goes up, creating a furnace to burn up all extra the fat and carbs while the appetite is suppressed at the same time.
It is no wonder chili peppers now rank among the top diet and weight loss options in the world today, through designer diets, pills as well supplements. But for those of us who are still not quite used to the heat, moderation is the key.
Here is a quick look at chili pepper benefits:
- Speeds up metabolism
- Burns calories and stored body fat faster
- Prevents fat storage
- Suppresses appetite
- Prevents cardio vascular ailments
- Lowers cholesterol and controls blood glucose levels
In the midst of this natural food revolution, chili peppers have taken center stage. New studies show that this widely-grown spice crop and a global favorite originated in eastern Mexico. No wonder then that Mexican cuisine ranks among the top in world favorites. Full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants chili peppers are now among the top grocery choices for all who want to live a long and healthy life.
