Bite into Hot Peppers for healthPeppers are good sources of vitamins (A and C) but hot peppers contain capsaicinoids which have many wonderful properties. These (the most common form is capsaicin) cause the 'hot' experience when we eat them. They have no effect on the taste buds but act directly on the pain receptors in the mouth. The hotness of peppers is measured in scoville units. Bell peppers have zero scoville units while habanero peppers register 200,000 to 300,000 scoville units. Capsaicin can offer pain relief from headache and arthritis and some studies suggest that it can prevent the growth of some types of cancer. Because of the concentration of capsaicin in hot peppers, small amounts added to food can provide health benefits while enhancing the flavor of the dishes. Many people avoid hot peppers and miss the health benefits they can provide because they don't like the 'heat'. There are a range of hot peppers which make it possible to enjoy them in food while limiting the experience of heat. Removing the seeds and white veins will reduce the 'heat' of any pepper. Finally, it is possible to become accustomed to higher levels of hotness by increasing consumption of milder peppers and working up to the hotter ones. If you find that you have bitten off more 'heat' than you can stand, the best antidote is to drink milk or eat rice or bread.
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