Health Benefits of Chillies
Chillies are sow good for you…
Chilli peppers are a rich source of vitamin C, A and E, potassium and folic acid. They are good for clearing sinuses and in its chemical form are used in Sudafed. The capsaicin triggers certain cells in the human body to produce endorphins, morphine like painkillers that give a sense of wellbeing.
This is why some people become addicted to eating chillies, they develop a tolerance to the heat and can eat very hot chillies without breaking into a sweat. It is the body’s way of dealing with the heat to flush the body with water by sweating, nose running and watering eyes.
Origin of Chilli Peppers
Capsicum is the genus that all chilli peppers belong to and it comes from the Greek word ‘kapto’ which means ‘to bite’.The capsicum originates from Central & South America and it has been in use since 7,000BC.It is now widely available around the world due the travels of Christopher Colombus who picked it up whilst travelling to the Americas in the late 1400′s. It was exported to Europe and across Asia and Africa. It is widely used in traditional Indian recipes, in Chinese and Italian one aswell, and in fact India and Pakistan are the largest growers of chillies in the world.
Chillies are called:
- ‘Mirchi’ in India (Hindu)
- ‘Aji’ in Spanish
- ‘Chile’ or ‘Chile Pepper’ in America
- ‘Chili’ or ‘Chilli’ in Europe – the latter in England