Green chillies are among the best foods to bring a spicy taste to your food. Capsaicin is the chemical compound that makes chillies taste hot and spicy. Most people eat chillies in raw, fried or roasted form along with salads and as a side dish in the main meals. This spicy vegetable includes Phytonutrients like Carotene-B, Carotene-A and is packed with fibre and vitamin C.
Here are some surprising health benefits of green chillies:
1 . Boost immunity
Green chillies are rich in Vitamin C which help in raising the immunity levels and in fighting cold and sinusitis. Capsaicin in green chillies has a stimulating effect on the mucous membrane of the nose and sinuses. Capsaicin stimulates blood flow through the membrane and causes mucus secretion to become thinner. This action results in combating the common cold or sinus infection.
2 . Improve digestive health
Green chillies are loaded with dietary fibre that helps in colon cleansing and keeping your bowel movements healthy. Fibre is vital for bulking up waste and easing its movement out of the system, preventing constipation.
3 . Keep hair healthy
Green chillies are an excellent source of natural silicon that improves blood circulation to the scalp and hair follicles, works as a natural hair growth stimulator and shields hair follicles. Vitamin C found in green chillies facilitates the absorption of iron and provides enough oxygen to the hair follicles preventing hair breakage and split ends.
4 . Prevent heart ailments
Green chillies are good in lowering the triglyceride levels, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. They also prevent the deposition of fats along the blood vessels walls which is caused by free radicals. Green chillies are good for lowering the blood pressure and heart rate.
5 . Lower body temperature
Capsaicin found in green chillies is hot to taste but has shown to lower body temperature by stimulating the cooling centre of the hypothalamus in the brain. This is exactly the reason why we in India, eat hot spicy food even though the temperatures here run high.
6 . Fight ageing
Green chillies are rich in antioxidants in the form of Vitamin A, B complex and C. These counterbalance the destructive effects of free radicals in our body and prevent blood clots which are the root cause of cardiovascular ailments.
7 . Aid in weight loss
Not only do green chillies have a healthy nutritional profile, it can also stimulate your body to burn fat at a faster rate. The next time you break into a sweat upon eating a green chilly remember that your metabolism is heating up as well. Including green chillies in your diet causes fat to oxidise faster and speeds up your metabolism.