No, no, no….this blog has not become X-rated. I am actually making reference to our next gift from Mother Nature – cayenne! The active ingredient in cayenne is a substance known as capsaicin. It has been shown that capsaicin actually alters the bodily compound (substance P) that transfers pain messages to the brain. Therefore, cayenne can help to reduce pain and inflammation by short-circuiting the pain message. Cool, huh?
source: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/all-we-can-eat/i-spice/i-spice-cayenne.html
According to the book The New Anti-Aging Revolution by Drs. Ronald Klatz & Robert Goldman:
- Capsaicin is used in many over-the-counter and prescription creams for the treatment of arthritis, shingles, post-operative pain, cluster headaches, and psoriasis and other skin conditions.
- A recent study found that cayenne has antimicrobial effects, meaning it could be used to fight infection.
- When taken orally, cayenne stimulates circulation, aids digestion, and promotes sweating (which may help to break a fever).
- Cayenne pepper, when taken with meals, may help to reduce appetite and has shown to increase the metabolism of fats.
Bring on the hot sauce! To find out other interesting ways to incorporate cayenne into your diet, click here. Because cayenne is incredibly potent, excessive ingestion is not recommended. And you only make this mistake once – WASH YOUR HANDS if you are handling this spice. One quick rub of your eyes will have you screaming your way to the bathroom sink.
Please check with a health-care provider or nutritional expert before starting this or any other routine. However, educating yourself is the key to your own health care!
