Chilli, speed up your metabolism NOW, it really is HOT STUFF

By Cassandra Austin, Women’s Healthy Chef

Chillies are hot! When spicing up your food with this little hot pepper, the health benefits of chillies should not be taken for granted. Full of Capsaicin, which is responsible for the spicy taste, chillies lower blood sugar levels, boost immune system, reduce inflammation and improve circulation. Other nutritional benefits of chillies include a rich vitamins A, C and K content and lycopene, which has a reputation of preventing certain types of cancer

Health

Antioxidant Vitamins A and C in chillies make it a powerful antioxidant, preventing cell damage and cancer, while supporting the immune system

Blood sugar Research by the University of Tasmania indicated that eating chillies in normal amounts significantly helps to balance insulin levels. During the research, they found that 60% less insulin was needed to lower blood sugar after a meal

Circulation The main component of chillies, capsaicin, works as a blood thinner, increasing circulation and helping to prevent strokes

Inflammation and pain relieve  Capsaicin is also responsible for reducing inflammation and blocks pain transmissions from inflamed areas. These properties make chillies and excellent food source for people with auto-inflammatory diseases like arthritis

Fights cancer  Lycopene, found in capsaicin, is a carotenoid abundantly found in red peppers and known to destroy the primary types of prostate cancer cells

Beauty

Anti-aging The antioxidants in chillies prevent and slow down free radicals that cause the breaking down of cells, protecting your skin from damage by sun and other external influences. Capsaicin also inhibits the activation of nuclear transcription factors triggered by UV rays, therefore lowering the risk of skin damage by the sun

Healthy hair  For thick and healthy hair, mix some cayenne pepper with olive oil till it forms a paste and massage into the scalp. Allow to sit for approximately 30 minutes and rinse thoroughly. A mask of cayenne pepper, made from ground chillies, increases the blood flow to the scalp and stimulates the hair follicles, benefiting hair growth

Weight-loss

Fat burning the capsaicin found in chillies is responsible for increasing the metabolism and boosting the fat burning process. Studies found that the metabolic rate increases over 20% for a couple of hours after eating chillies

Cooking

Fresh chillies can be used to spice up soups, curries, pasta sauces and salad dressings. Just cut the chillies open, remove the seeds and chop finely before adding it to the dish. Cooking chillies allows for an infusion of the spice and flavor, but overcooking them makes them bitter

A salsa is a great way to add flavor and a kick to your favorite dishes. Mixing tomatoes, raw onions, cilantro, Jalapeño chili pepper, lemon juice and some salt makes a fresh and traditional Mexican salsa

Dried chillies are a versatile condiment to have. Chili powder is a key ingredient for curry spice mixes or for a warming bean Chile. Dried chili flakes make for a great way to spice up any meal, just by sprinkling a little over your dish

Dark chocolate and spiced tea that contain chillies are two other creative ways to use this healthy and hot red pepper

Make your body sizzle today and add some hot sexy chillies to your life