Do you enjoy a little spice in your life? If you do, chances are you have tried using cayenne in various dishes to give it the “fire” you desperately crave. However, it turns out that cayenne is just not good for heating up your favourite dish, as it also provides many beneficial nutrients. Check out the healing benefits of cayenne.
Cayenne nutritional profile
Cayenne is part of the capsicum family that is related to bell peppers, jalapeños, and paprika. They grow no more than 4 feet tall and normally in tropical climates as they require moist and warm soil for best results, but they can be cultivated in some northern climates as well.
Cayenne is most often consumed in powdered spices and hot sauces, but can be eaten directly. Many herbalists believe it’s medicinal effectiveness kicks in at 35,000 – 40,000 heat units, and that can be exponentiated (if you are brave enough) by finding peppers up to 100,000 heat units. Of course, you need to be extremely careful when consuming peppers with high heat as they can severely burn your tongue and throat.
So what can you expect to get from consuming cayenne peppers regularly? Here is a glimpse of its nutritional profile:
Great source of vitamin A
Provides nice doses of vitamin B6, C, E, and K
Contains beneficial amounts of manganese, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, and iron
Contains capsaicin, which neutralizes a neuropeptide linked to causing inflammation
Cayenne is also very antibacterial, viral, and fungal.
Try Cayenne Fruit TinctureHealing action of cayenne
Many of the healing benefits of cayenne pepper comes from its heat, and the stimulation that occurs in the body as a result. In fact, there is empirical evidence that many traumatic events have been stopped in their tracks through the use of cayenne, like heart attacks and migraines.
The healing benefits of cayenne include:
Improves circulation
Helps improve overall cardiovascular function (helps dissolve excessive blood clots)
Provides angina relief
Helps prevent stomach ulcers (invigorates cells and kills intrusive bacteria)
Relieves upper abdominal discomfort and indigestion
Helps maintain insulin levels and creates a reduction in blood glucose levels, which has positive implications for type 2 diabetes
Relieves skin irritation, itching, and pain (topical cayenne creams or poultice)
Reduces joint pain, shingles, fibromyalgia, and nerve pain.
Helps relieve nasal infections
Promotes effective assimilation and elimination of ingested substances
Anti cold and flu, as well as anti-fungal
Anti-allergen
Natural detoxifier
Helps induce apoptosis (cancer cell death)
The healing benefits of cayenne are difficult to ignore!
How to use cayenne in your diet
If you are not a spicy person, your options to use cayenne are likely limited to capsules. However, if you do enjoy a little or a lot of spice, it can be used in a number of different food and beverage applications, including:
Addition to any rice, pasta, or vegetable dish
Meat based meals, like beef chili, chicken, and fish (choose grass fed, and organic and free rang, and wild caught)
Total body tonic drink
So work this hot spice into your diet, and note the healing benefits along the way.
Derek Henry
Derek Henry, Founder of Healing the Body and the THRIVE Academy, used nutrition, supplementation, and a holistic lifestyle to naturally unravel 13 chronic disease conditions that conventional or alternative medical professionals couldn't help him resolve. As a result of this one-in-a-million health transformation and the knowledge acquired in the process, he now educates, coaches, and inspires others to transform their health through a natural and holistic approach. Since 2014, he has helped his THRIVE Academy participants heal over 20 different chronic disease conditions, primarily related to digestive and autoimmune concerns.
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