Chili pepper
Chili pepper (lat. Capsicum frutescens) is a very hot vegetable from the Solanaceae family.
History
From the name of the chili pepper, we can assume that it came to us from the country of the same name. However, in reality this is not at all the case — the homeland of this culture is distant America. And this pepper penetrated to the rest of the world only after the discovery of America by Columbus.
Description
The fruits of chili peppers are endowed with a fiery taste and a delicious spicy aroma — the taste of this amazing vegetable is largely influenced by the amount of capsaicin it contains.
Since the hottest part of chili peppers has always been the seeds, it is recommended to remove them before use.
Where does it grow
Nowadays, chili peppers are grown almost everywhere. However, the largest plantations of this crop can be found in America, Thailand and India.
Application
Chili peppers are one of the most common spices in the cuisines of a wide variety of peoples around the world. They are equally actively used both dried and fresh. Fresh whole pods are most often used in marinades and various preserves. This wonderful vegetable can instantly add spice to cheeses, pickles, salads, soups, meat dishes and side dishes. The powder prepared from it is added to almost any dish — it instantly improves their taste and gives them the missing pungency. In addition, excellent sauces are prepared with the addition of such powder.
Recently, chili peppers have also been used to make desserts — this fun vegetable can even be found in chocolate. It has found its use in cocktails and various alcohol-containing drinks.
Chili peppers are very rich in ascorbic acid — they contain twice as much as the famous lemons. This property allows you to actively use this vegetable during colds. And if you often consume at least a little chili pepper, you can lower your cholesterol levels, which in turn will allow it to become an excellent prophylactic against various cardiovascular diseases.
In addition, regular consumption of handsome chili promotes the production of the “happiness hormone” — endorphin, which helps increase stress resistance, pain threshold and improve blood circulation along with immunity.
Also, chili pepper, consumed in moderation, helps stimulate the secretion of gastric juice, increase the speed of metabolic processes in the body, increase appetite and normalize the functioning of the digestive system. It also activates brain function and significantly improves liver function. Epilepsy, hepatitis, bronchial asthma, insomnia, allergies, atherosclerosis — this natural healer can handle everything! Moreover, these bright pods help prevent the development of cancer.
And not so long ago, researchers were able to establish that chili pepper can be used for a number of complications caused by diabetes. For example, a cream based on this vegetable will help relieve pain in the legs — chili pepper extract is one of the main components of many warming and pain-relieving ointments.
Chili peppers are also used quite actively for cosmetic purposes. It is added to toothpastes aimed at improving the condition of gums, as well as to various hair masks that promote their growth. And if you rub a cream containing chili pepper into your whiskey, you can get rid of a headache quite quickly. Also, many manufacturers use this component in the production of effective anti-cellulite creams.
Contraindications
It is not recommended to include chili pepper in your diet for people who have certain problems with the gastrointestinal tract. It is also important to know that these cute peppers can provoke heartburn, so consuming them does not hurt in dosage.
Also, when consuming chili peppers, it is important to ensure that the substances it contains do not get on wounds or mucous membranes.
