Chilli

According to a study conducted by the University of California LA School of Medicine, chilli contains an active ingredient called capsaicin which has been found to slow down the growth of laboratory prostate cancer cells. Note, however, that the study was based on laboratory cells, and not based on actual human studies. As such, there is still no conclusive evidence yet to show that consumption of chilli through diet could help men with prostate cancer. Nevertheless, this study does give us the hope that one day capsaicin could be extracted and made into a medicine for treating painful prostate cancers.

Chilli itself is a common spice consumed worldwide by many people for many years. Since chilli is often part of our diet, it is good for us to understand the nutritional value of the herb. Chilli is:

• rich in antioxidants (vitamins A, C and E) - helps the body to combat the oxidative process which causes cholesterol to harden that leads on to atherosclerosis and other hearth related diseases;
• contains Vitamin B which helps our body produce energy (this could be the reason why some people have difficulty sleeping after ingesting chilli);
• contains minerals such as molybdenum, manganese, folate, potassium, thiamin and copper, necessary for maintaining healthy nervous system, bones, muscles and many more bodily functions;
• contains seven times more vitamin C than orange;
• burns away calories, thus may have weight loss benefit;
• dilates the airway of lungs, and may alleviate asthma and wheezing conditions;
• detoxifies and remove waste from our cells;
• stimulates the release of endorphins (our body’s natural pain killer) and may help to relieve minor pains; and
• enriches our body with vitamin A, thus negating one of the side effects of smoking which is vitamin A deficiency.

(Courtesy of Cholesterol Diet Secrets)