Chile Peppers - More Than Just Hot and Spicy
Author: Joe Johnson When they cut into a pepper of any type, most cooks will naturally discard the seeds and white ribs or veins inside of the pepper without giving it much thought. While the veins are not very tasty for our palates, concentrated within them is a substance called capsaicin, which not only provides the pepper with its signature heat, but also provides a hearty dose of health benefits. For example, capsaicin is loaded with vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, and bioflavinoids (which are antioxidants that serve to protect your body against infection, help you to properly absorb vitamin C, and maintain the strength of your capillaries). Capsaicin is low in fat, calories and cholesterol, and aids in digestion. If that's not enough, capsaicin has also shown to increase your metabolic rate, which means your body is burning more calories. A study recently published in the British Journal of Nutrition validated this by showing that capsaicin added to the breakfast and lunch fo...