Chili peppers, despite their fiery “hotness” are one of very popular spices known for medicinal and health benefiting properties. The chili is actually a fruit pod from the plant belonging to the nightshade family of solanaceae, of the genus; capsicum. Scientific name: Capsicum annum. Some common members of nightshade family are tomato, auburgine, tobacco etc.
Several cultivars of peppers are grown all around the world. The chilli plant is native to Central American region where it was used as spicy ingredient in Mexican cuisines for several thousand years. It was introduced to the rest of the world by Spanish and Portuguese explorers during 16th and 17th centuries and now grown widely in many parts of the world as an important commercial crop.

Chilli plant is a perennial small shrub with woody stem growing up to a meter height and bears white coloured flowers. The pods are very variable in size, shape, colour, and pungency. Depending on the cultivar type, they range from the mild, fleshy, Mexican bell peppers to the tiny, fiery, finger-like chili peppers, commonly grown in Indian subcontinent. The hotness of chili is measured in “Scoville heat units” (SHU). On the Scoville scale, a sweet bell pepper scores 0, a jalapeño pepper around 2,500-4,000 and a Mexican habañeros 200,000 to 500,000.

Interiorly, each fruit features numerous tiny, white, or cream coloured, circular and flat seeds. The seeds are actually clinging on either side to central white placenta.

To harvest, chilies can be picked up while they are green or when they reach complete maturity and dried in the plant. Usually, the fruits are picked up by hand when they are matured and turned red. They are then left to dry which causes them to shrivel. Chilies have strong spicy taste that comes to them from the active alkaloid compounds capsaicin, capsanthin and capsorubin.

Health benefits

Chili pepper contains impressive list of plant derived chemical compounds that are known to have disease preventing and health promoting properties.

Chillies contain health benefiting an alkaloid compound in them, capsaicin, which gives strong spicy pungent character. Early laboratory studies on experimental mammals suggest that capsaicin has anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic and anti-diabetic properties. It also found to reduce LDL cholesterol levels in obese individuals.

Fresh chili peppers, red or green, are rich source of vitamin-C. 100 g fresh chilies provide about 143.7 mcg or about 240% of RDA. Vitamin C is a potent water-soluble antioxidant. It is required for the collagen synthesis in the body. Collagen is the main structural protein in the body required for maintaining the integrity of blood vessels, skin, organs, and bones. Regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps body protect from scurvy; develop resistance against infectious agents (boosts immunity) and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.

They are also good in other antioxidants like vitamin A, and flavonoids like beta-carotene, alpha carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and cryptoxanthin. These antioxidant substances in capsicum helps to protect body from injurious effects of free radicals generated during stress, diseases conditions.

Chillies contain good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.

Chillies are also good in B-complex group of vitamins such as niacin, pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), riboflavin and thiamin (vitamin B-1). These vitamins are essential in the sense that body requires them from external sources to replenish.

Chilli peppers have amazingly high levels of vitamins and minerals. Just 100 g provides (in % of recommended daily allowance)

 240% of vitamin-C (Ascorbic acid),

 39% of vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine),

 32% of vitamin A,

 13% of iron,

 14% of copper,

 7% of potassium,  

But no cholesterol.

Curing Cataracts (Eye Disorder): Cataracts are the most common disorders of visual problems. A decrease in the level of vitamin C in the lens of the human eye has been found more commonly when cataracts are present. An increase of vitamin C intake increases the blood supply to the ocular areas of the body. Chili pepper is one of the best methods for obtaining sufficient amount of vitamin C as it contains 92.9 mg of vitamin C which is 103.22% of the daily recommended value.

Reduce Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Low levels of vitamin B6 have been related with increased symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with more severe pain. Earlier researches discovered people with RA and need more vitamin B6 than healthy people because they experience constant muscle aches and joint pain due to prolonged inflammation. Vitamin B6 present in Chili pepper is beneficial for curbing pain and can be useful in supplement form for controlling aches in the muscles and joints due to arthritis. Including Chili pepper is one of the best methods of obtaining Vitamin B6.

Protection against Lung Cancer: Several researches have shown that high levels of vitamin B9 help to prevent lung cancer. An increase in the consumption of Chili pepper helps to control the growth of precancerous bronchial cells in people who smoke, since Chili pepper consists of considerable amount of vitamin B9. Normally smoking reduce the supply of vitamins in the body, and low vitamin B9 levels lead to the development of lung cancer in smokers as well as ordinary people.

Immunity: Chili pepper is a vital part of the healing process and guarantees better wound healing. It acts as an exceptionally good immunity builder, and it works as a cure for anaemia, that allow your body to both defend itself better and heal itself faster. It is a co-factor in numerous enzymatic processes that result in endothelial growth, or the healing process of tissue.

Osteoporosis: Boron, manganese, and vanadium are considered an important component of bone building and maintenance. Chili pepper, when taken with calcium, copper, and zinc appears to prevent bone loss in the spine in post-menopausal women. Osteoporosis incidences in both men and women (25% rate and 50% rates, respectively) have bone fragility from the malady sufficient to break bones.

Supports Heart Health: Vitamin K present in Chili pepper has been shown to prevent calcification of arteries, which is one of the chief causes of heart attacks. It works by carrying calcium out of the arteries and not allowing it to form into hard, dangerous plaque deposits.

Apart from that Chili pepper helps to prevent hardening of the arterier because it can keep calcium out of your artery linings and other body tissues, where it can cause damage. This is particularly true for vitamin K2, which is the vitamin that is made naturally in the bacteria of your intestines.

Cholesterol: Intake of large quantities of niacin, 1100 or more milligrams in a day, has been proven to significantly decrease the levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol and increase the good HDL cholesterol, which prevents the thickening of artery walls and conditions like atherosclerosis. To get sufficient amount of niacin, Chili pepper is the best option since it contains 1.092 mg of vitamin B3 which is 6.83% of the daily recommended value.

Improves brain function: Regular consumption of Chili pepper ensures smooth functioning of the brain and helps improve memory and concentration as it consists of considerable amount of vitamin B1. Vitamin B1 helps relieve stress and also helps strengthen the nerves. It is also used to reduce the progression of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cirrhosis, and other infections.

Premature Skin Damage: Vitamin A deficiency may result in drying, scaling, and follicular thickening of the skin. Keratinization of the skin, when the epithelial cells lose their moisture and become hard and dry, can occur in the mucous membranes of the respiratory, gastrointestinal tract, and urinary tract. Consume vitamin A rich food like Chili pepper to get required amount of vitamin A through your diet.