Cayenne pepper: what it is, useful properties, uses

Cayenne pepper is one of the most popular spices. Like other types of hot pepper, it has many useful properties, it is used not only in cooking, but also in the pharmaceutical industry, folk medicine and home cosmetology.

What is cayenne pepper?

Cayenne pepper is a whole group of peppers. Refers to this plant in the Solanaceae family. Its fruits have a pronounced pungent taste. Moreover, of all types of hot red pepper used in cooking, it is considered the most pungent (although the specific indicators depend on the variety). The shape of its fruits is characteristic of all types of peppers, they are typical pods. But they are much smaller than the pods of the same Chile. On average, they are 1.5x0.5 cm, that is, no bigger than a large bean.

It is most likely native to tropical America. It was there that it began to be cultivated as a cultivated plant. However, it is now produced not only in Mexico, but also in India, Thailand, and other countries.

What is the difference between cayenne pepper and chili pepper?

Botanists currently have no consensus on whether the cayenne pepper (correctly called Capsicum frutescens) should be considered an independent species of the genus Capsicum. Some experts believe that it is a species of chili pepper called Capsicum annuum. There are others who suggest that cayenne pepper belongs to a species called Capsicum chinense.

If there are differences between them, they are very minor. The shape of the fruit of both varieties is common. The main difference is that the pods of cayenne pepper are more often orange in color and lighter than red chilies. At the same time they have a more pungent taste and a pronounced spicy-bitter aroma (this distinguishes them from all other varieties of pepper, which are famous for their pungent taste but not for their smell).

Its very name comes from the port city of Cayenne. And the confusion with varieties of pepper is reinforced by the fact that in everyday life it is often called "Brazilian", "Indian" or even chili.

Composition and calories

The energy value of cayenne pepper is 318 kcal per 100 g. But since you can not eat this pepper in such a quantity anyway, it does not matter in principle.

The main "active ingredient" of cayenne pepper is capsaicin. It is an alkaloid that is chemically similar to such natural substances as caffeine and nicotine. It was first discovered in the 1880s but for a long time its properties were poorly understood, although by the early twentieth century it was clear that capsaicin had some potential for the pharmaceutical industry.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, a scale for the pungency of different varieties of pepper was also developed, because capsaicin was found to be responsible for it. It was developed by a certain Wiebur Scoville. His methodology is still in use today in the industry; it is called the "Scoville Scale. The scientist set the amount of spice dilution before the tongue ceases to feel the sting. According to his first research, the leader was the habanero pepper, which has an estimated 350,000 pungency. By contrast, the pungency of cayenne pepper is 40,000 (35,000 for chili peppers and only 1 for paprika).

In addition to capsaicin (which itself is not as simple as it seems), there are other elements in the composition of this spice. These are:

• plant proteins;
• fiber;
• B vitamins including thiamine and folic acid;
• Antioxidants - vitamins A, E and ascorbic acid;
• minerals - potassium, manganese, iron, calcium, sulfur;
• other alkaloids (piperidine and chavicine);
• essential and fatty oils.

Due to such a unique composition, the fruits of cayenne pepper can enhance the effect on the body of certain medicines or plants.

What is useful for cayenne pepper

General benefits

Various scientific studies have been conducted regarding cayenne pepper and its constituent components. Although most of the therapeutic effects are associated with the action of capsaicin, it is actually not excluded that a combination of all the elements described above also plays a role.

Cayenne pepper is useful in that it:

• Has antibacterial and antiviral effects;
• Helps to eliminate depression;
• has beneficial effects on the skin and blood vessels;
• Helps fight malignancies;
• allows you to reduce excess weight and normalize blood sugar levels.

Studies are continuing, and perhaps scientists will be able to identify other useful properties of this spice.

For women

One of the most important properties of cayenne pepper for women is its ability to speed up metabolic processes and neutralize chronic inflammation, which is often caused by the presence of fat reserves. Simply put, the use of cayenne pepper speeds up the metabolism and allows you to get rid not only of extra pounds, but also of the associated hormonal imbalance and gynecological diseases. In addition, cayenne pepper helps to cope with chronic stress and fatigue, and also has a pain relieving effect, which can be very important for PMS.

Finally, this spice is widely used in cosmetology, increasing the effect of almost any hair care products.

For men

Cayenne pepper improves blood circulation and thus helps to cope with erectile dysfunction.

In addition, its ability to fight inflammation and malignant neoplasms plays an important role. Interestingly, for the first time the benefits of pepper in this regard were proven by researchers from the University of Toronto exactly on the example of prostate cancer. Later it was proven that pepper and its constituent capsaicin are also effective in treating other tumors, including colon, liver and pancreatic cancers. But it is more effective against prostate cancer. The fact is that in each of these cases, the mechanism of action of capsaicin is different, so the effect may be different. In prostate cancer, the pepper and its constituent substances make the tumor cells more susceptible to traditional treatments.

In pregnancy

For moms-to-be, cayenne pepper can be useful as an antiviral and immunomodulatory agent. However, it is very important to use it in small quantities without exceeding the minimum dosage, because otherwise in the early term you can provoke a miscarriage, and in the late term - premature birth.

During breastfeeding

During lactation, a young mother could benefit from taking a natural remedy for postpartum depression (cayenne pepper promotes the production of endorphins - the hormones of joy). But the problem is that the active ingredient will get into breast milk, and young children such burning spices are contraindicated.

For kids

Modern pediatricians may have different opinions about how a baby should eat. But they agree on one thing - cayenne pepper should not be given to children under 7 years of age, as their digestive system is not yet fully mature, especially for such a pungent spice. In addition, like all spices, cayenne pepper can cause allergic reactions at an early age. But it can be useful for older children, including due to its immunomodulatory properties.

For weight loss

The capsaicin in cayenne pepper helps boost the metabolism. This in itself allows you to get rid of excess weight. In addition, if a person is taking any medications to restore the metabolism, capsaicin can enhance their action.

The properties of this substance are well researched. Relevant experiments were conducted in South Korea. However, they did not use the pepper in its pure form, but injected its active ingredient. But all the same, the results were impressive. If usually when losing weight the rate of getting rid of fat also decreases, with capsaicin this does not happen, the weight is reduced evenly.

Currently, nutritionists recommend to lose weight using the following recipe: you must take 25 grams of ground dried cayenne pepper and insist it in vodka (1 cup) for two weeks, and then every day to drink 15 drops of this remedy, pre-dissolved in 100 ml of boiled water. This is guaranteed to speed up the metabolism. However, in this case, to strengthen the results you should at least limit yourself a little bit in fatty and sugary foods, as well as provide the body with at least minimal physical activity.

There are other options, such as taking capsules containing an extract of cayenne pepper. But whichever method a person chooses, it is necessary to ensure that he has a proper drinking regime, because the substances contained in this spice will provoke thirst and cause dehydration. To retain fluid in the body, you can drink a glass of salted water before taking the cayenne pepper tincture.

There is another recipe for weight loss. It involves drinking a glass of water with a little cayenne pepper added every day after lunch. Some people think that it is better to drink green tea with cayenne pepper for weight loss.

Before choosing one or the other option, it is recommended to consult with your doctor.

Therapeutic properties of cayenne pepper

This spice is widely used in folk medicine. The following recipes can be used for this purpose:

1. From colds and acute respiratory infections, especially those caused by hypothermia, will get rid of a glass of warm milk, in which a small amount (literally on the tip of a knife) of cayenne pepper is mixed. When the patient drinks this drink, he needs to be wrapped in a warm blanket, as he is very much starting to sweat.
2. To cleanse the body of toxins take 1 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper to 100 grams of honey and 250 grams of softened butter. All these ingredients are mixed together. The mixture is stored in the refrigerator for a day, using it three times a day, 1-2 tsp.
3. Oil against muscle pain, neuralgia, arthritis, rheumatism has warming properties. It is prepared on the basis of refined vegetable oil - 1 cup no more than 30 grams of powdered cayenne pepper. After that, the drug insist for 2 weeks in a cool place without light. Before use, pass through a folded gauze for filtration. The product is applied to the problem areas.
4. To restore erectile function, use an alcoholic tincture, which is made in the same way as the weight loss remedy described above. But the dosage and method of reception will be different. The dosage is 20 drops per 100 grams of water. It is recommended to drink it not before and not after meals, but at the same time with a meal.
5. A small amount of tincture can be taken internally to stimulate appetite and improve digestion in gastritis with reduced acidity, in the presence of infection as an antibacterial agent.
6. Tincture is used for rubbing in bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. Cayenne pepper has both irritating and at the same time warming effect, as a result of increased blood circulation, eliminated stagnation.
7. Cayenne pepper is added in powder form to the foot bath. This is necessary not only for colds (provided that they are not accompanied by high fever), but also to eliminate venous stasis.

Sometimes even just adding the spice to various dishes can be a great way to increase blood flow in the genitals.

Also a small addition of cayenne pepper in food helps not only to increase blood flow, but also to get rid of excess fluid, so this spice is excellent to relieve swelling, regardless of the cause of its appearance.

Therefore, cayenne pepper is also taken when you need to lower blood pressure. It is enough to drink a glass of green tea with a small amount of this spice. Black tea is not suitable, because it will only aggravate the problem. By the way, when you add the spice to black tea, the burning of the drink increases significantly, which can provoke side effects. You can also use cayenne pepper with coffee, but only in the absence of contraindications. In addition, coffee overstimulates, and if there are also diseases of the cardiovascular system, then the patient will have to give up even a small dose.

Cayenne pepper powder is also added to ointments for rubbing, which are used in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. However, it should be understood that pepper itself does not eliminate the causes of such diseases. And the patient still has to go to the doctor, do all the necessary examinations, take tests and follow all the recommendations.

As a rule, when taking cayenne pepper internally try to observe the recommended duration of the course - no more than 5 days, then you need to take a break. If there are any side effects or allergic reactions, the reception of the spice is stopped immediately.

Cayenne pepper in cosmetology

The power of cayenne pepper alone can greatly improve skin and hair. There are many home cosmetology recipes that feature this spice:

1. Against hair loss. A small amount of pepper is mixed with sea salt, applied to the roots of the hair with massaging motions to ensure blood flow. This helps to provide the hair follicles with all the necessary substances, as well as to cope with seborrheic dermatitis. It should also be noted that this procedure should not be performed too often, as it can lead to dehydration of the skin.
2. Mixture for anti-cellulite wraps. One should take a pinch of cayenne pepper and mix it with 40 grams of cosmetic clay and the same amount of honey and water - just enough to obtain a thick consistency that resembles a thick sour cream. In this case, it is recommended to dilute the clay separately, and the cayenne pepper - previously heated in a water bath. Still warm mixture is applied to the thighs and other problem areas, and the skin should be dry and not steamed. On top of the application is covered with plastic wrap and left on the body for 20-25 minutes, longer is unlikely to sustain. Rinse off with cool water.
3. Against seborrhea. Take 3 raw eggs, a small pinch of powdered pepper, 1 tbsp. A spoonful of crushed mint, honey, and olive oil. For a perfect consistency, first the honey is beaten with the eggs, best done in a blender. Then add the oil, pepper and mint and mix. The mixture is applied to the hair and cover the head with plastic wrap. Mask leave for 40 minutes, then rinse.
4. Mask for light hair. For this mask one fresh yolk, one tablespoon of vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and a little cayenne pepper are used. The remedy is mixed a little and left in a warm place for half an hour. Then distribute the resulting mass on the roots of the hair, massaging lightly. After 20 minutes, rinse it off.

To improve hair growth to cayenne pepper powder add a small amount of burdock oil and heat it all in a water bath. The mixture is applied to the hair while still warm. If there is no allergic reaction, keep it for 15 minutes, and then wash it off.

Apply any of these products only with gloved hands, otherwise there is a risk of causing skin burns. Masks do not do more than once a week, so as not to provoke irritation.

Cayenne pepper used in cooking

Cayenne pepper is almost never used as a single product because it has a too pungent taste. Traditionally it goes well with cheese dishes, dry salted cookies, egg salads, omelets and souffles. In small quantities it can be added to soups and vegetable stews, sprinkled on fish and seafood. As for soup, cayenne pepper will perfectly complement pumpkin, carrot or potato and tomato soups. You can even add it to dairy soups, although the milk slightly mutes the pungency and spiciness of the pepper. It goes especially well with creamy soups whipped in a blender. When adding the spice to dishes, it is necessary to observe the minimum dosage specified in the recipe. Experienced housewives can then adjust it.

Cayenne pepper, along with cinnamon, is also a great addition to cacao. In fact, this is how pre-Columbian Americans made chocolate - with cayenne pepper and other local spices.

You can make cheese cookies. For 120 grams of grated cheddar cheese take the same amount of chilled butter, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of cumin, 300 grams of flour, 0.5 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and the same amount of salt. Mix sifted flour with salt and pepper, add chopped butter and knead until you obtain a crumbly mass. Then they add cheese, an egg and literally a tablespoon of cold water to make a fairly elastic dough. From it roll a sausage and roll it on a sheet of parchment sprinkled with caraway seeds. Then wrap it in clingfilm and put in the fridge for half an hour. After this time, the dough is cut into slices or circles of small thickness and baked in the preheated oven until golden for 10 minutes.

Cayenne pepper powder is also added to the breading mixture. In it you can fry not only meat and fish, but also pieces of cheese of the appropriate varieties.

What can be used as a substitute?

You can substitute chili peppers for cayenne pepper in dishes, it will be delicious. If you want something equally spicy, you can use grated ginger root. But black and white peppers will not replace cayenne pepper, they have different properties, composition and taste.

Harms and contraindications

Not always cayenne pepper gives only benefits. There are cases when it brings only harm. In this case, the use of the product will have to be abandoned. Absolute contraindications are:

1. Acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The fact is that the substances in this spice stimulate the production of gastric juice.
2. Certain kidney and liver pathologies.
3. Individual intolerance to capsaicin and other substances that make up the cayenne pepper.

However, people with a healthy digestive system have nothing to fear. It is scientifically proved that pepper, especially in small quantities, will not affect the intact mucous membrane, because it will be neutralized by substances produced in the stomach. But with gastritis and in fact in such cases there are problems.

If the juice of cayenne pepper comes into contact with the skin on this area, there may be traces of burns, and quite painful. Therefore, to look through these pods, to wash and even more so to grind them is possible only in kitchen gloves. If the juice gets on the mucous membranes of the eyes or nose, the burn can be serious, and it is better to call an ambulance if the pain does not go away by itself.

A large dosage taken accidentally one time can also lead to problems. If a person inadvertently swallows any amount of the spice, he begins to get lacrimation, skin redness, and nasal secretions. It would be a mistake to think that in this case will help a large amount of water, even clean water without gas, as burning substances in it do not dissolve. In Thailand, in such a case, visitors to the restaurant are offered a coconut, and in domestic conditions you can drink nonfat yogurt or kefir. Even a piece of butter will improve the situation. You can also wash down the pepper with freshly squeezed lemon juice, it will compensate for the spiciness.

How to choose and store

Cayenne pepper is sold in both raw and dried form. In the first case, it can be orange, both quite bright and a muted shade, even grayish-yellow, but not red. You should choose pods with smooth skin without damage, they should not be flaccid and wrinkled.

You should not try to taste the pods. Not everyone knows how to do it properly. Just bite the pepper is not allowed, you can only lick a little.

In raw form, it is recommended to store the pods in the refrigerator in a plastic container or bag. The storage period in such cases is 14 days. There are also recipes for freezing cayenne pepper. It is recommended to clean the insides and put it in the freezer for some time.

Ground cayenne pepper is made from several varieties of raw materials. Therefore, the mixture may be more brown, darker. Unfortunately, manufacturers do not always produce spices in transparent sachets, so you have to rely only on your intuition when choosing. This is why you should give preference to products of well-known brands.

The ground pepper from the bags should preferably be poured into a glass jar with a tightly closing lid. Like all ground spices, it should be stored away from the stove and hot steam, making sure that there are no lumps in it and that the mixture does not lose its original color. To do this, you need to keep it out of the sun by putting the jar in a closed kitchen cabinet. From time to time it is worth checking the condition of the stock. If the spice has an unpleasant smell, it is better to throw it away immediately.

Photo of cayenne pepper