Dried red chillies
Also known as:
Lal mirchi, Chuvanna mulagu.
Description:
Chilli peppers belong to the family of foods bearing the Latin name capsicum. Chilli peppers are usually red or green in colour. Ground chilli peppers are used to make chilli powder, cayenne powder and paprika. Chilli peppers are used as a food and seasoning and revered for their medicinal qualities. Chilli peppers were originally cultivated in Central and South America about 7000 years ago.
Commonly used in:
They are used as a condiment and spice. They are used in almost every Indian dishes either in whole or powdered form.
Health Benefits:
Capsaicin is a potent inhibitor of substance P, a neuropeptide associated with inflammatory processes. Topical capsaicin is now recognized in treating option for osteoarthritis pain. Red chilli peppers, such as cayenne, have been shown to reduce blood cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and platelet aggregation, while increasing the body's ability to dissolve fibrin, a substance integral to the formation of blood clots. Not only do they not cause ulcers, they can help prevent them by killing bacteria you may have ingested, while stimulating the cells lining the stomach to secrete protective buffering juices.
