If you eat spicy food, the next time you’re prepping salsa, add more jalapenos. They have some amazing health advantages you’ve probably never knew.
Jalapenos aren’t just healthy, but they add flavor to foods. When you eat them, you supply your body with vitamins B6 and C, as well as some great amount of fiber.
They’re also rich in antioxidants- they fight off free radicals or the waste substances which our body produces.
Free radicals have been linked with cell damage and higher risk of cancer, stroke, heart illness, arthritis, and other health problems.
Antioxidants are potent enough to slow down or to avert damage to the cells afflicted by the free radicals.
Why You Need to Eat more Jalapenos
Jalapenos are medium-sized chili peppers that have a mild to moderate heat and add flavor to everything from salsa to chili.
Even though they remain widely associated with Mexican cuisine, today, they’re grown worldwide and are present in numerous other cuisines.
They contain capsaicin- an alkaloid which makes them hot, but it’s also rich in health benefits, including pain-relieving ones.
It affects the neurotransmitters and thus, lowers our perception of pain.
Capsaicin is therefore regularly present in topical creams and gels for pain reduction.
It can also be beneficial to reduce painful headaches triggered by migraine. Athletes use it to alleviate strains and sprains.
Capsaicin & Its Use in Cancer Treatment
Capsaicin may have potential in the treatment of cancer- according to laboratory studies, there are promising results concerning its ability to destroy cancerous cells without destroying the healthy ones.
But, there’s need of such findings in human studies to prove its benefit in the fight against cancer.
How to Add this Amazing Pepper to Your Diet
Luckily for u, there are plenty of ways to add jalapenos to your diet. Check out some amazing ones here:
- Chop them and add them in salsa
- Pickle them and use them as condiment
- Cook them in delicious entrees
- Bake them in bread
- Combine them in omelets
- Remove their insides and stuff them with rice, meat or cheese
Good to know:
Make sure you wear gloves when handling jalapenos because you may accidentally rub your eyes and this can cause painful burning.
Before you cook them, remove the membranes and seeds as these are the hottest parts and may be too much for some people, even if you do eat spicy food.
If you find jalapeno meals too spicy, drink a cup of milk to lower the burning in the mouth.
Sources: