25. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is a hot chilli pepper that’s part of the capsicum family. They originate from Central and South America and are named after the city of the same name. Cayenne pepper has been a part of Native American cuisine for 9,000 years and is now added to dishes all around the world to enhance the flavour and add spice and warmth.
The peppers are dried and turned into a powder and their health benefits mainly stem from the compound capsaicin. Capsaicin gives cayenne pepper powder its spiciness and is rich in vitamins B6, C and E as well as potassium and manganese.
As well as flavouring foods, cayenne pepper can be used as a home remedy to help relieve congestion and treat coughs, and colds. The powder is low in calories and goes well with eggs, soups, tacos and pasta.
What’s more, studies have shown that cayenne pepper can increase our metabolic rate and therefore calorie burn and weight loss. This again is thought to be down to the capsaicin and its ability to create heat within the body which increases the metabolic rate.
Cayenne pepper can be used as an appetite suppressant as it helps to turn on the system in the body that tells us when we’re full which may happen sooner after consuming cayenne pepper than if we don’t consume it.
