Cayenne pepper is also known by various other names such as bird pepper, cow-horn pepper, aleva, Guinea spice and red hot chilli pepper. It traces its origin to Cayenne, a city in French Guiana. The primary use of this pepper is in cooking spicy dishes. The pepper forms one of the primary ingredients in hot sauces that use vinegar as a preservative. It is also used as a spicy spread on sandwiches. Cayenne pepper is a rich source of Vitamins A, B6, B12 (riboflavin), C and E, manganese and potassium. However, since it is used only in very fewer quantities in cooking, their contribution towards the daily requirements of these nutrients is actually negligible. This pepper has a slew of health benefits to offer such as those given below.
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- The capsaicin ingredient in cayenne pepper has anti-inflammatory properties. Because of this, the pepper can be used to treat psoriasis, inflammation, and pain. You can make a pain relief ointment at home by mixing half a teaspoon of pepper with a couple of teaspoons of warm coconut or olive oil. Apply on the painful area and keep it for half an hour before washing off. Do this once daily till the pain goes. This also provides relief for the itchy skin due to psoriasis.
- Capsaicin also helps to avoid blood clotting problem by dilating blood vessels due to its antioxidant properties. To one cup of warm water, add a teaspoon each of pepper powder and honey, as well as two tablespoons of unfiltered raw apple cider vinegar. Drink this mixture twice a day.
- The pepper can be used to bring relief to sore throats. You can either add a little powder to hot water and gargle or mix some powder with a teaspoon of raw honey and consume it. Both methods can be tried out three to four times a day.
- Cayenne pepper helps obese people shed their extra pounds in more than one way. One way it does this is by lessening your calorie intake because of the spiciness quotient. Moreover, it is an excellent metabolism boosting agent that helps in rapidly burning the accumulated body fat. The pepper also digests the nutrients required for maintaining ideal body weight at a very fast rate.
- Another health benefit of cayenne pepper is its ability to cure ulcers due to the intestinal peristaltic movement. This in turn also helps to get rid of cramps and gastric problems.
- Capsaicin also helps in preventing the occurrence of pancreatic and liver cancers by destroying the cancer cells in these areas.
- Including cayenne pepper, twice a day in your meals helps to combat acne by enhancing the flow of blood to the skin and keeping it flawless.
- Cayenne pepper offers remedies for day to day problems like a headache and common cold and flu. It can bring relief to any type of headaches such as a tension headache, cluster headache or a migraine. In the case of common cold and flu, it loosens the congestion and relieves blocked sinuses by generating secretions because of its fiery effect.
- The pepper plays a key role in stimulating hair growth. Apart from increasing the hair volume, it also helps in retaining the hair luster. When the pepper is applied on the scalp, it causes irritation and thereby triggers the blood circulation. Remember to wash it off from the hair.
- Cayenne pepper helps in maintaining good oral health and staying off from diseases like periodontitis and gingivitis, apart from usual problems like a toothache, swollen and/or bleeding gums, dry mouth and bad breath.
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