Cayenne is one of those foods that people either love or they hate. If you can hack the punch of this awesome Capsicum, though, there are many health benefits of cayenne peppers that just might be worth a little heat on your tongue and in your belly.
With so much cayenne growing on our two plants this year, we have more than we could ever eat or use fresh out of the garden, so I’ve been looking at ways to cook and preserve it for use throughout the cold months. Here’s a little of what I’ve learned about the health benefits in my research, as well as a couple of easy recipes that include this Wonder Food!
Health benefits of cayenne peppers include:
- Boosts immunity (due to it’s high concentration of Vitamin A)
- Supports heart and circulatory system health
- Promotes proper digestion
- Stimulate the sinuses and clear congestion from colds, the flu, or allergies
- Relieves pain if applied topically (pain associated with arthritis, psoriasis and cluster headaches has been studied). Studies have also shown that eating cayenne can trick your pain sensors and encourages your brain to focus away from your original pain (like a headache). Once the heat in your mouth wears off, your headache may be gone, too 🙂
- Helps prevent ulcers
Simple cayenne recipes:
- Natural Healing Broth from Faithful Provisions
- Home Remedy for coughs from Good Food Matters
- Warming Rub for Sore Muscles from Mommmypotamus
- Homemade, Homegrown Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce from Frugally Sustainable
- Cayenne Pepper Jelly from Love. Peace. Hapiness. Cooking.
- Moroccan Green Bean Saute from About.com
Don’t have cayenne in your garden this year but are now inspired? Purchase some here.
What’s your favorite way to use cayenne?
xoxo,
M
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I sprinkle cayenne pepper on almost everything – love it
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Keren (From South Africa)
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Clicked the listed link: “Home Remedy for coughs from Good Food Matters” never did find the correct recipe & there is no “search” feature on that site either.
Hi Nana, Here’s the direct link: http://nancyvienneau.com/blog/articles/home-remedy/
and here’s what she writes:
MAGGIE’S COUGH REMEDY
¼ teaspoon Cayenne
¼ teaspoon Ginger
1 Tablespoon Cider Vinegar (an organic one, like Bragg’s, is preferred.)
2 Tablespoon Water
1 Tablespoon Honey (use a locally produced raw honey, if possible.)
Dissolve cayenne and ginger in cider vinegar and water. Add honey and shake well. Take 1 Tablespoon as needed for cough. Hoo-wee.
Note: This is potent albeit watery syrup. It also doesn’t dissolve perfectly. Always shake well before using.
Hope you have a great Tuesday!
I love these peppers!
Do these benefits apply to similar peppers? serrano, habanero, jalapeno? We didn’t grow any cayenne but we grew the ones I mentioned. Happy gardening!
I believe that they do! It’s the capsaicin in the peppers that holds all the health benefits…the hotter the chile, the better the benefit 🙂
I’ve heard the benefits of cayenne before, but you’re so fortunate to have the fresh stuff!
I make a cayenne, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, and honey concoction when I’m feeling like I’m getting sick. It works like a charm!
Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo
I make hot sauce with lacto-fermented peppers, and I use dried pepper flakes to make chili infused oil.