5 Reasons Why You Need To Start Adding Peppers to Your Diet
Whether you’re a lover of rich, warm flavors or like to give your dishes a little extra kick every now and then, there are significant benefits to adding more peppers to your diet. A chemical within the plant named capsaicin gives it its flavor and a range of positive health effects. In the past, people primarily used peppers to preserve food before the availability of refrigeration. Although food poisoning is not as much of a concern today as it was many years ago, this is just one of the many reasons that peppers make a great addition to your meals. Here are five good reasons to give your food some extra spice!
GREAT REASONS TO INCORPORATE PEPPERS IN YOUR DIET
Reason #1: Eating peppers can boost your metabolism and help you lose weight.
If losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight is a priority of yours, then adding some peppers to your meals can help with that. When you consume hot peppers, your metabolic rate increases. This happens because the body generates heat that results in energy being used and calories burning naturally.
It has also been found that the nerves that send messages from the brain to the stomach to signal hunger are diminished. That means the urge you feel from your appetite is also reduced when eating peppers, so you’re less likely to snack or overeat.
Reason #2: Reduces the chances of cancer developing.
Cancer forms due to changes or mutations in the DNA within cells. Capsaicin has properties within it that help kill these cancerous cells as they develop. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant makeup is what contributes to this being possible. No need to worry about the rest of your cells, as it only targets the ones that may be harmful to you. Some cancers that capsaicin has been found to help prevent are leukemia, breast, prostate, pancreatic, and bladder cancers.
Reason #3: Helps to promote a healthy heart.
The heart is the central part of the circulatory system that helps blood move throughout the body. When capsaicin is in the system, blood pressure and cholesterol levels are lowered. The chances of blood clotting are also reduced and blood vessels are dilated for more efficient blood flow.
Reason #4: Aids the digestive system to function optimally.
As mentioned previously, capsaicin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These can help ease any gas in the intestines, soothe stomach pains and cramps, and serve as a remedy for diarrhea. It can also be effective in relieving and preventing ulcers since capsaicin cuts down on the acidity that is present in the digestive tract.
Reason #5: Protects the body against infections, flu, and colds.
Another benefit of the heat produced by the body from eating peppers is the stimulation of the immune system. An increase in body temperature kicks the immune system into action to fight off any viruses present in the body. Antioxidants and beta-carotene in peppers help boost this effect even more. Peppers are also fantastic at killing bacteria in food, helping it last longer and protecting you from food poisoning.
DIFFERENT WAYS TO EAT PEPPERS
There are a variety of ways to integrate peppers into your diet. Some people like using a pepper corer to remove the seeds and make stuffed peppers. Others like to add hot sauce to their meal for an extra burst of flavor and heat. Some recipes you should consider cooking that use peppers include:
- Salsa
- Pepper steak
- Kung Pao shrimp
- Gumbo
- Curry Chicken
There are a plethora of foods that are available for you to try with peppers to get their fantastic benefits. Try one of these great dishes to promote good health and add some spice to your life!