Chili is a food widely used in Latin American gastronomy to provide a spicy and delicious flavor to many dishes. But, in addition to being a food delight, chili is a perfect ingredient for health since it provides us with interesting vitamins and nutrients that improve our internal functions and make our body in perfect condition. To know more about this topic, we invite you to continue reading this article to discover the health properties of chili.
The use of chili in gastronomy
Chili is a plant native to America, it was consumed before agriculture was established around 7000 BC In fact, and the culture of the chili was a great contribution of the Aztecs to agriculture that, even today, remains. Proof of this is that in Central Asia and Europe they are also producers despite the fact that Mexico continues to be one of the largest producers and distributors of chili worldwide.
The spread or dissemination of this plant throughout the world began with the second voyage of Christopher Columbus, who brought the chili to Spain, where it quickly spread to Portugal, and they transferred it to their colonies in India, spreading the cultivation throughout Central Asia until get to Europe again.
The vitamins of the chili
Before starting to discover the properties of the chili it is important that we know its nutritional contribution and, above all, we are going to highlight the vitamin contribution that it offers us as it is very outstanding. The vitamins found in the chili are the following:
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is good for the production of sex cells and in the development of fetuses, it also favors the repair and growth of cells linked to vision.
Vitamin B
On the other hand, vitamin B is separated into many subgroups, but only 8 are the ones that we need in our body in an essential way (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B8, B9, B12.), Basically its action is focused the metabolism of carbohydrates, helps in the assimilation of proteins, fat and collaborates in the correct development of the nervous system.
Vitamin C
We also have our great ally Vitamin C that basically works as fuel for our defenses, although it is also an antioxidant, it helps to heal burns and heal wounds. (Its effects are much broader but you would need an entire article to describe them.)
Vitamin E
Vitamin E we must highlight its effects on the skin thanks to its healing and regenerative properties, it helps to heal wounds and burns.
Thanks to the vitamins A and C in charge of strengthening the muscular walls of the heart, hot pepper helps us to prevent cardiovascular diseases, apart from its use it avoids adding salt to foods, something that directly affects the blood system.
Medicinal properties of chili
Now we are going to talk directly about the properties of chili for health so that we can know the great benefits that this food can bring to our body because, as we have said, it is a perfect ingredient to improve some bodily functions.
Analgesic properties
The active ingredient basically stimulates certain neurons and neurotransmitters that end up altering the transmission of pain and desensitizing the nervous system.
Anti-cancer properties
Recent study has shown that capsaicin binds only to cancer cells and more specifically to its energy source disabling it and causing cell death, the most amazing thing is that it only seems to affect cancer cells.
Antioxidant properties
Capsaicin is an antioxidant that prevents the formation of blood clots, something vital to avoid cardiovascular diseases, which together with the properties of the different vitamins make chili a powerful ally against cellular oxidation.
Thermogenic property
We can more or less understand by parthenogenesis the generation of heat through food previously ingested throughout the day. This process helps raise body temperature and thereby facilitates more efficient fat burning.
