Description

Botanical Name:  Capsicum annuum

Components:  Created from crushed dried cayenne peppers. A member of the nightshade family, cayenne is indigenous to the equatorial region of the Americas but now grows in tropical and temperate areas around the world.

Overview:  Cayenne has been used as both a food and a medicine by Native Americans for thousands of years. Capsaicin, its main active ingredient, does far more than produce a hot, burning sensation. Applied topically, it blocks a body chemical integral to the transmission of pain impulses. Studies have demonstrated its value in alleviating pain and discomfort from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, psoriasis, headaches, diabetic neuropathy, and shingles. It also reduces the pain from mouth sores associated with chemotherapy and radiation. Internally, capsaicin can reduce cholesterol and triglycerides, which helps keep the blood flowing freely, decreasing the potential for clotting. The antioxidant nutrients in peppers enhance cardiovascular and bronchial health.

Uses:  Typically used in cooking, chili flakes are commonly found on the grocery-store shelf and in pizzerias.