Regularly eating hot peppers may benefit overall healthĮven though studies on cayenne pepper intake and health are limited, some studies have associated hot pepper consumption in general with improved health outcomes. In addition to capsaicin, cayenne peppers contain other beneficial compounds, including carotenoids and flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.Ĥ. Studies show that consuming a diet rich in plant foods that contain a variety of antioxidants may protect against certain health conditions like heart disease and may help prolong your life ( 20, 21).Ĭonsuming cayenne peppers, along with other fruits and vegetables, is a smart way to keep yourself healthy while providing your body with protective plant compounds and essential nutrients. chinense) ( 19).įollowing a diet high in nutrient-dense, antioxidant-rich foods like peppers could help promote optimal health and increase your body’s antioxidant defenses. Packed with beneficial plant compoundsĪlthough capsaicin is perhaps the most well-known plant compound found in cayenne peppers, they contain many more protective plant compounds that may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the body.Īll of these may help protect against cellular damage caused by oxidative stress - an imbalance between damaging molecules called free radicals and antioxidant defenses in the body ( 17, 18).Ī 2015 study showed that Capsicum annuum pepper varieties, including a type of cayenne pepper, had the greatest antioxidant activity compared with other types of peppers, including habanero-type peppers (C. However, available studies focus on high-dose oral capsaicin supplements and topical applications, not the amounts found in normal serving sizes of hot peppers.ģ. SummaryĪ compound called capsaicin in cayenne peppers may offer some health benefits. However, it’s unclear whether the amounts of capsaicin consumed in normal servings of cayenne peppers and other hot peppers have any meaningful benefits ( 11).Įven though the capsaicin found in cayenne peppers likely offers some benefits, more research is needed to fully understand how capsaicin derived from normal serving sizes of cayenne peppers affects health. Research also suggests that capsaicin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, research on the effects of taking capsaicin supplements is quite limited, and more evidence supports the use of topical applications of capsaicin, such as capsicin-containing creams ( 16). When you consume it in high-dose supplement form or apply it topically, capsaicin may offer several health benefits, including ( 11, 12, 13, 14, 15): Peppers contain a variety of compounds called capsaicinoids, but capsaicin is the most abundant ( 3, 10). Many of the health benefits attributed to hot peppers like cayenne peppers are linked to their capsaicin content. SummaryĬhili peppers like cayenne peppers are high in a number of nutrients, including vitamin C and provitamin A. However, consuming small amounts of cayenne regularly could contribute to the improved intake of certain nutrients. It also plays critical roles in collagen production, iron absorption, and neurotransmitter synthesis ( 9).Īdditionally, hot peppers like cayenne peppers provide nutrients like B6, vitamin K, potassium, and magnesium.Įven though cayenne peppers are nutritious, most people can only handle a small portion because of their intense spicy flavor. Like vitamin A, vitamin C is essential to immune health. Just one 45-gram chili pepper provides 72% of this nutrient. Plus, hot peppers like cayenne peppers are packed with vitamin C. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient that’s involved in many aspects of health. Provitamin A carotenoids found in cayenne include alpha carotene and beta carotene, which the body can convert into the active form of vitamin A ( 6, 7). Provitamin A carotenoids are found in plant foods, while preformed vitamin A is concentrated in animal foods ( 5). Vitamin A exists in two forms: provitamin A and preformed vitamin A.
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