Since the trend of using chili peppers for weight loss became popular, the nutritional and health value of chili peppers has once again drawn public attention. Is eating chili peppers beneficial or harmful to your health? Do chili peppers have health benefits? Let's get to know chili peppers better. Preventing Cancer and Chronic Diseases
A study by the University of Hawaii in the United States once showed that carotene in vegetables such as chili peppers and carrots may play an important role in preventing cancer. The study found that many ethnic groups that like to eat chili peppers, such as those in various Southeast Asian countries and in India, generally have a lower chance of developing cancer than Western countries. Experts speculate that spicy foods contain more antioxidants, which can prevent cancer and other chronic diseases.
There is also evidence that chili peppers can be used to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Because the carotene contained in chili peppers is also a powerful antioxidant, it can counteract the oxidation of LDL cholesterol into a harmful form. Once LDL cholesterol is oxidized, it becomes a harmful substance that blocks arteries. Studies also show that people who consume more carotene-containing foods are less likely to develop cancer and heart disease. Commonly Used to Treat Coughs and Colds
For a long time, red chili peppers have actually been used to treat coughs, colds, sinusitis, and bronchitis.
There is a plant chemical substance in red chili peppers called "capsaicin," which can clear nasal congestion. Capsaicin is very similar to some cold and cough medicines sold in pharmacies, but eating chili peppers is better than taking medicine because it has no side effects at all.
In addition to clearing the respiratory tract, chili peppers can also lower blood cholesterol. When fed high doses of capsaicin and a small amount of saturated fat, it can reduce LDL cholesterol. Other Benefits and Precautions
In addition, red chili peppers also have the effect of thinning the blood. Chili peppers prevent blood clots by increasing the time it takes for blood to clot. In other words, it can prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Long-term consumption of red chili peppers in your diet can enhance a person's ability to fight aging. This is because red chili peppers are very nutritious. Besides being rich in carotene, one red chili pepper also contains about 5,000 international units of vitamin A, which is 100% of the daily requirement. It also contains more than 100 milligrams of vitamin C. These rich antioxidants can neutralize harmful oxygen-free radicals in the body, thereby protecting the body. Chili Peppers for Weight Loss Become a Fashion
Chili peppers are quite popular among women in Japan, especially many overweight women and young girls who are worried about gaining weight. Not only do they have chili peppers with every meal at home, but they also often carry a small bottle of chili powder or pepper flakes in their handbags along with their makeup or powder compacts. The reason for this is said to be that chili peppers have a good weight loss effect.
To cater to this new trend, many beverage companies have been competing to make new spicy drinks with chili peppers as an ingredient. As a result, Japan's imports of chili peppers have also increased. According to statistics, Japan imported a total of 5,900 tons of chili peppers from China and Thailand in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 16% compared to the same period last year. Chili Peaks as a "Tonic" for Women
Recently, Japan has offered a new interpretation of chili peppers. In Japan, people believe that to some extent, chili peppers are a "tonic" for women, not an "enemy." Because they believe that in addition to its bactericidal effect, it contains a substance called "capsaicin" that can promote hormone secretion, thereby accelerating metabolism to burn body fat and achieve a weight loss effect. Moreover, the ingredients in chili peppers are natural and reliable. In addition, they believe that in some regions where spicy food is the mainstay, local women not only rarely have acne problems, but their skin is mostly smooth. Overeating Chili Peppers Can Also Cause Poisoning
Chili peppers have the function of warming the middle jiao to dissipate heat, whetting the appetite, and aiding digestion. They can be used as both a condiment and a dish, and many people like to eat them, especially people in the south.
However, this dish should not be eaten in large quantities because chili peppers are pungent, hot, and toxic. Overconsumption can cause dampness in the body to transform from heat, manifesting as skin acne, high blood pressure, aggravated hemorrhoids, and nosebleeds. If large amounts of chili peppers are consumed for a long time, it can cause symptoms of poisoning, such as a burning sensation in the stomach, abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and even hematemesis, hematuria, epistaxis, high or low blood pressure. Animal experiments have confirmed that the main component of chili peppers, capsaicin, has a certain effect on the circulatory system and can cause transient blood pressure drops, slowed heart rate, and difficulty breathing. Therefore, be careful of poisoning from overeating chili peppers.
After experiencing this round of "spicy" culture and bathing in this "spicy" sunshine, how do you feel? Even your own tongue feels like chili peppers are dancing, right? That's right. On this scorching summer day, what we need is not only a cool feeling, but also the "passion" of spice. The spicy food lovers are roaming around, releasing all the "chili passion" this summer!