5 Key Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper!

I was talking with one of my long-standing clients and he reminded me of the health benefits of cayenne pepper. He uses this ingredient to help him with both digestive and cardiovascular health concerns.

And he believes that cayenne pepper has been a key ingredient for a long and healthy life.

He is not the only person who believe in the health benefits of cayenne pepper. Many consider this herb to be the “King of Medicinal Herbs.” For example:

“If you master only one herb in your life, master cayenne pepper. It is more powerful than any other.” – Dr. Schulze

“Cayenne pepper – prized for thousands of years for its healing power. Folklore from around the world recounts amazing results using cayenne pepper in simple healing and in baffling health problems. But cayenne pepper is not just a healer from ancient history. Recent clinical studies have been conducted on many of the old-time health applications for this miracle herb. Again and again, the therapeutic value of cayenne pepper has been medically validated.” – Dr. Patrick Quillin from The Healing Power of Cayenne Pepper.

Of these two quotes. Dr. Patrick Quillin is the more recognizable name. Dr. Quillin served from 1990 to 2000 as the Vice President of Nutrition for Cancer Treatment Centers of America. His 15 books have sold over 1 million copies and include the best sellers Healing Nutrients and Beating Cancer with Nutrition.

Before we look at the 5 key health benefit of cayenne pepper, it’s important to note its nutritional value. One tablespoon or 5 grams contains the following:

44% of the RDI for Vitamin A

8% of the RDI for Vitamin E

7% of the RDI for Vitamin C

6% of the RDI for Vitamin B6

5% of the RDI for Vitamin K

5% of the RDI for Manganese

3% of the RDI for Potassium

3% of the RDI for Riboflavin

And the active ingredient that gives cayenne pepper its potency as a medicinal herb is capsaicin. This ingredient also gives this herb its hot taste. The higher the amount of capsaicin, the hotter the taste.

Which is one of the reasons why people do not use cayenne pepper as part of their daily food intake. However, there are ways around this. But before we discuss this, let’s look at the following health benefits of cayenne peppers:

• Digestive Difficulties

• Poor Circulation

• High Blood Pressure

• Arthritis

• Colds & Flu

Digestive Difficulties
Most people don’t realize how important proper digestion is to their health. It is through the digestive system that nutrients are broken down and then absorbed to supply the nutritional needs for every part of your body.

As a person ages the hydrochloric acid of the stomach tends to decline. For many, poor digestion is related to a lack of this acid. Cayenne pepper aids the body in creating hydrochloric acid, which is critical for good digestion and assimilation of nutrients, especially from protein.

It is believed that cayenne pepper can help rebuild the tissues in the stomach as well as aid the peristaltic actions of the intestines. Cayenne pepper will improve elimination while aiding in the absorption of nutrients from your food.

Poor Circulation
If you have ever eaten chips and salsa made with hot peppers then you’ve most likely experienced sweating and a drippy nose. That’s because cayenne pepper stimulates circulation and blood flow, especially to the peripheral areas of the body.

Because of its ability to stimulate both digestion and circulation, cayenne pepper is often added to other herbal remedies to improve their absorption and circulation throughout the body.

High Blood Pressure
Cayenne pepper prevents platelets from clumping together and accumulating in the blood stream. Because of this cayenne pepper has become a popular home remedy for mild hypertension and those concerned about their cholesterol levels.

If you are already on heart medication or high blood pressure medication, then definitely work with a qualified physician and pharmacist before using this herb.

Arthritis
Cayenne pepper can also be mixed with other ingredients to form a pain-relieving muscle and joint rub. The heat source is the ingredient capsaicin which is a fiery phenolic resin found in this pepper.

Upon contact with the skin, the capsaicin causes the nerve ending to release a chemical called substance P. Substance P is what transmits the pain signal from the body back to the brain. Because capsaicin causes this substance P to flood out of the nerve cells, you experience a sensation that ranges from warmth to extreme heat.

Once the nerve endings have exhausted all of their substance P, no pain signals can be transmitted to the brain until they are replenished. These types of cayenne pepper preparations have become popular for the treatment of arthritis and bursitis. They are not meant for acute inflammation but for long-standing chronic conditions.

Colds & Flu
Because cayenne pepper promotes fever and sweating it is considered to have a diaphoretic (sweat-inducing) action to help relieve the congestion of colds and flu.  And help to reduce fevers.

For many the heat associated with cayenne pepper turns them off to using this natural ingredient. I know personally, I do not like my food to make me sweat.

The active ingredient that causes this is capsaicin. It stimulates the pain receptors in your tongue, which then causes the sensation of heat. And while your tongue can adjust to this over time, most people don’t want to wait.

The heat caused for these types of ingredients is called Socville Heat Units (SHUs). For cayenne pepper this can range from 40,000 to 100,000 SHUs.

By taking this as a capsule, you can bypass the mouth and go directly to your stomach. And there are manufacturing techniques that help to reduce any stomach irritation while still getting the health benefits of cayenne pepper.

It is always best to start with supplements that are rated for the 40,000 SHUs level. Then work up to higher amounts if you want.

Here are some links to excellent nutritional supplements that can help you take this key ingredient:

Cool Cayenne https://www.lifeextension.com/vitamins-supplements/item16201/cool-cayenne

Cayenne Extra Hot https://www.lifeextension.com/vitamins-supplements/item16076/cayenne-extra-hot

Hopefully, this information on the health benefits of cayenne pepper has been helpful. If it has, then please share this article with others.

Blessing Lives Through Nitric Oxide Therapy!

Dan Hammer