Capsaicin is the component in chili peppers that provides their heat. It is dated back to 7,000 years ago in Mexico and is known to give lots of Mexican dishes a pep. It is rich in both vitamins and minerals and has anticancer and antimicrobial properties.
Many pain-relieving gels, ointments, creams, and patches contain capsaicin as an ingredient. Once it is applied, it will react with the TRPV1 receptors that are located in the brain, bladder, blood vessels, peripheral nerves, and more.
While there has been lots of research completed on capsaicin and its health benefits, as the TRPV1 receptors are located throughout the entire body, there is still a lot of research that needs to be completed.
Health Benefits
When capsaicin is released into the body, it binds to the TRPV1 receptors. These receptors are a channel of nerves that can detect heat sources. Continued exposure to heat sources will make these receptors insensitive over time. As your body gets used to it, it will also make it more endurable.
Heart Health
Capsaicin’s anti-inflammatory properties make it a powerful supplement for fostering heart health. A three-month study shows that capsaicin substantially decreases the risk factors of heart disease in adults who had low HDL cholesterol levels.
Capsaicin helps blood flow as well by dilating the blood vessels. (1)
Weight Loss
Capsaicinoids, also known as CAPs, are responsible for enhanced metabolism. In a study, 75 individuals were provided either a placebo, 2 mg CAPs, or 4 mg CAPs for a total of 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, body fat was 5.91% less in CAPs 4 mg subjects than in placebo subjects.
Capsaicin has also been found to decrease appetite, therefore, eating less can cause a person to lose weight.
Capsaicin is used as a main ingredient in many fat loss dietary supplements.
Pain Relief
Capsaicin is a main ingredient in different pain relief medicines. It may be utilized as a cream, an ointment, or a patch for specific healing applications. Capsaicin patches are used at the doctor’s office to address ailments like postherpetic neuralgia, as well as others.
Chemical P, which is the ingredient that carries pain messages to our brains, can be decreased when capsaicin is applied to our skin.
Capsaicin works well to relieve pain from shingles, HIV neuropathy, and more.
Aids Psoriasis
Those who suffer from psoriasis know how ugly the skin condition is. Worse yet, they understand how itchy it can be. Capsaicin cream will greatly decrease the number of cells duplicating and help in the turnaround of auto-immune skin lesions.
Migraines
Have you ever been so focused on the pain in one part of your body that you were unable to concentrate on another even worse part? Focusing on the new injury simply eliminated the original pain.
Capsaicin can also help those that suffer from migraines. Once you have eaten the capsaicin, your body will become numb to the pain from the migraine, thus reducing the overall sensation of pain.
Allergies
Suffer from all the lovely side effects or symptoms of allergies? Capsaicin can help. As it has many anti-inflammatory benefits, both allergies, and symptoms can be prevented. If doses are repeatedly applied topically, the lining of the nose may become numb, having a therapeutic effect on allergic rhinitis.
Bad Breath
If you have stinky breath, turn to capsaicin. Hot pepper powder will work to disinfect your mouth, which will greatly improve the odor of your mouth.
Health Risks
While there are certainly many health benefits of capsaicin, there are also some health risks that you need to be aware of depending on the individual. Some people are more sensitive to this molecule than others.
Nausea or Vomiting
Higher volumes of capsaicin in patch form for pain relief could be an issue. Some individuals will have nausea or vomiting from applying these patches in too high of doses.
Acid Reflux
Acid reflux can easily be worsened by capsaicin. Reflux, heartburn, and other comfortable sensations may take place as the sensation of heat is created in the lining of the stomach.
Diarrhea
An upset stomach and diarrhea are possible side effects of peppers’ capsaicin, which irritates the digestive tract lining. Food could also be digested too quickly, causing stool burn as it passes through the body.
Dosage
For 12 weeks, participants were able to tolerate 6 milligrams of capsinoids taken orally each day in a clinical study of capsaicin-based therapeutics for weight loss.
In a separate study, 27 individuals were given about 30 grams of chopped chili per day. There was not any noticeable effect on their health.
References
- https://pepperhead.com/health-benefits-eating-peppers/
Managing Editor, With a background in health, holistic nutrition and science, Chloe has written for international publications including the Wall Street Journal and Green King.
