Cayenne pepper sstrengthens the immune system, promotes cardiovascular health and blood circulation, and improves digestion to name a few of its documented health benefits. It can also stimulate weight loss and relieve pain. Cayenne pepper has so many health-promoting benefits that allow us to live longer, so I would like to proclaim it a great panacea! You should take it often, and I take it with the main meal at midday every day, and have noticed great effects from it.

Cayenne pepper, Capsicum frutescence, comes from the dried and ground fruit of the cayenne pepper plant, which is related to the paprika. . It is not irritating to the mucous membranes as chili can be. It is originally from South America but is now grown in many parts of the world. Cayenne is one of the first exotic spices to enter Nordic cuisine. It is somewhat reminiscent of paprika, but has a more fiery and hot taste and goes well in soups, sauces and goulash.

It is rich in nutrients such as vitamins A, C and E, as well as potassium, calcium and flavonoids. But the most well-known ingredient in cayenne pepper is capsaicin, a chemical compound that gives the pepper its strong heat and is considered responsible for many of its health benefits.

I take one capsule each of cayenne pepper and black cumin oil 3-4 times a week and get a very positive effect on digestion, increased metabolism, less cold, stomach works better, etc. Unexpected improvements, and nice for a Vata type to be less cold now in the fall!

10 health benefits of cayenne pepper:

1. Strengthens the immune system
2. Promotes cardiovascular health and blood circulation
3. Stimulates weight loss
4. Improves digestion 
5. Provides pain relief
6. Improves skin health
7. Increases mental focus
8. Breaks up harmful biofilm
9. Expectorant, good for runny nose
10. Prolongs life

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The health effects of cayenne pepper 

Cayenne pepper is so healthy that I recommend taking it almost every day! Since a couple of weeks I take one capsule each of cayenne pepper and black cumin oil with the main meal in the middle of the day – it’s great! More on that below, first on the many health benefits of cayenne pepper:

1. the immune system

Cayenne pepper can be a valuable supplement for strengthening the immune system due to its high content of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. The pepper contains vitamins A and C, both of which are known for their ability to strengthen the immune system and protect the body against diseases. In addition, cayenne pepper also has a high concentration of capsaicin, which has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation in the body and improve the immune system.

My comment: since I started taking gelatin capsules with cayenne pepper, I have not had the slightest tendency to catch a cold, despite meeting lots of people.

2. blood circulation

Cayenne pepper is known for its ability to because the capsaicin dilates blood vessels, increasing blood flow improving blood circulation in the body. It is possible that cayenne pepper contributes to more oxygen and nutrients to the cells in the body, which improves one’s health significantly. Better blood circulation also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, because heart function improves and blood pressure is lowered. However, dietary capsaicin has no clear effect on blood glucose or lipid profiles. Therefore, the reduced risk of mortality may be due to the beneficial effect of capsaicin on the gut flora (and perhaps also because it breaks up harmful biofilms so cleansing).

My comment: I have very low blood pressure and do not notice anything negative from this. When I gave up sugar at the age of 32, all tendency to dizziness and fatigue disappeared, which I had previously thought was due to low blood pressure. But no, sugar and fast carbohydrates incl white flour were the culprit.

3. Weight loss

Cayenne pepper increases the metabolism, making the body burn calories faster. Research has shown that capsaicin does this by increasing the body’s heat. This process is called thermogenesis, which requires energy, i.e. the body must burn existing calories to create heat. This makes it easier to lose weight!  

Capsaicin also reduces hunger and increases satiety, which curbs cravings and also reduces food intake. One research study found that participants who consumed a capsule of capsaicin (capsule of cayenne pepper is just as good) before meals consumed an average of 309 fewer calories per day than those who did not take the capsule (published in Appetite, 2014). South Korean research suggests that capsaicin affects proteins that help break down fat, which speeds up desired weight loss.  

My comment: aproposthermogenesis, I have become warmer and less sensitive to cold since I started taking a capsule of cayenne pepper and a capsule of black cumin oil just before the only cooked meal of the day at 1 pm. So the rest of you who have a tendency to be cold can benefit from taking the cayenne pepper capsule. I have a sensitive gastrointestinal system and have not experienced anything negative from this, on the contrary. It probably keeps parasites and even worms away…

4. Digestion and stomach ulcers

Cayenne pepper is beneficial for digestion as it increases the production of gastric juices that help break down and digest food. This leads to both improved nutrient absorption and fewer digestive problems (heartburn and gas). Drink a glass of water with ¼ – ½ teaspoon of cayenne powder and the juice of half a lemon before meals. Research shows that cayenne pepper can also prevent diarrhea.

Cayenne pepper can prevent the development of stomach ulcers or eliminate pain caused by it. Capsaicin in cayenne pepper has the ability to destroy invading, harmful bacteria in the digestive system, and reduces inflammation in the body in general. A review of many publications showed that capsaicin slows down the production of acid in the stomach, stimulates blood flow to the stomach lining and increases the release of mucus in the stomach. All this supports the healing of the stomach. Capsaicin has antibacterial properties that actively fight the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers; Helicobacter pylori.  

5. Pain relief

The capsaicin in cayenne pepper has long been known for its pain-relieving effects. When cayenne pepper hits the stomach, the brain starts to release endorphins, which are natural painkillers in the body. Capsaicin cream or gel applied to the skin relieves pain by reducing the amount of a chemical substance (Substance P) responsible for transmitting pain signals to the brain, thus reducing the perception of pain.

6. Skin health

As capsaicin relieves pain and inflammation, cayenne pepper can help relieve itching and redness on the skin. It is also useful for reducing inflammation in skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, as well as reducing swelling and redness in acne. Consuming cayenne pepper can improve the overall appearance of the skin because its high concentration of antioxidants protects the skin against free radicals. Together with the increased blood circulation, the skin looks younger and healthier – which means better skin health!

7. mental focus

Cayenne pepper increases the production of dopamine and noradrenaline in the brain, two of our most important neurotransmitters. They help regulate mood, motivation and the ability to think and concentrate (cognitive function). Research shows that increased levels of dopamine and noradrenaline contribute to increased mental focus and improved cognitive function. This is especially true for memory, learning and attention (focus). Cayenne pepper has been shown to increase energy levels in the body, reducing fatigue and increasing mental focus and productivity. A great benefit for the brain!

8. Breaks down harmful biofilm

Biofilm is a slimy bacterial membrane created by the bacteria themselves, to protect them and ensure their survival. Which is good if it’s health-strengthening bacteria, but not good if it’s parasitic, disease-causing bacteria. Cayenne pepper may have the potential to improve autoimmune conditions such as arthritis and psoriasis, where the body attacks itself – when it is actually attacking harmful biofilms that cover the body’s own tissues.  

Other good ways to break up an unhealthy gut biofilm (besides salt water flush) is to take supplements with enzymes that break down proteins (proteolytic) such as apple cider vinegar, bicarbonate, strong herbs (especially bitter herbs like turmeric). Read more about biofilm here.

9. Expectorant, good against runny nose

Cayenne pepper thins the mucus in the nasal passages and sinuses and makes breathing easier, for common colds, allergies and sinusitis. You can add cayenne pepper to a cup of tea or hot water with a little coconut oil, because it stimulates the drainage of nasal mucus and reduces the symptoms of colds. Capsaicin applied inside the nose is considered a medical treatment option for both allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. Mechanism: intranasal capsaicin specifically stimulates afferent nerves (mainly non-myelinated C-fibres and some myelinated A-delta fibres). Capsaicin, which blocks neuropeptides, blocks the axon reflex and may have a curative effect on allergic rhinitis.

10. prolongs life

Among the most positive is the long-term one: that Cayenne pepper prolongs life! A meta-analysis of a large number of research articles showed that consuming cayenne pepper can reduce the risk of all diseases, and especially of cardiovascular disease. It also reduces mortality from cancer. Cayenne pepper is therefore a suitable addition to your diet if you want to prolong your life. Reference https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35038885/

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I did research on capsaicin

My last research project as a post-doc at the prestigious Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California in 1992-93 for (Swedish professor Per Peterson) was to study the effect of capsaicin on early T-cell maturation. This occurs in the thymus, and I showed that there is an increase in T-cell maturation and that it goes via the dendritic cells, which were then considered to be passive support cells. So these were controversial and novel findings, and for some strange reason my professor did not publish the finished article. Too bad, because 15 years later it was the hottest research and I had been first with this discovery.

• You can also buy organic cayenne pepper in most grocery stores, just buy organic because all spices are heavily sprayed.

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How to use cayenne pepper:

Cayenne pepper is available as a pepper, fresh or dried, ground spice, in the form of capsules and creams for external use. Capsaicin is not destroyed by heat and can be used in all cooking. You can drink cayenne with a pinch of cayenne pepper in cup of hot water.

I take 3-4 times a week one capsule each of cayenne pepper and black cumin oil and very positive effect on digestion, increased metabolism, less cold, stomach works better, etc.

You can buy kits with gelatin capsules to fill yourself and cayenne pepper and black cumin oil here!

Read about black cumin oil, which is also a health-boosting panacea – well proven for thousands of years. Scholars and spiritual dignitaries from ancient Egypt, the Arab world and Greece said that “black cumin oil cures everything except death”.

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Delicious recipe from Johanna Stahla von Schewen:

• Heat up about 0.5 dl of oil (coconut oil is good) and add two whole cloves of garlic plus 1-3 dried cayenne peppers depending on how strong (heat) you want. Let the cayenne and garlic take some color and then remove them. Then you add the rest of the ingredients (calculated for 4 servings.) Can be a tomato sauce or shrimp topped with some parsley afterwards. Or save the oil in a small bowl and drizzle on any food.

More cayenne tips:

• If you’re cold, cayenne pepper is also really good. Hot spices make you sweat as they affect the trigeminal nervous system on the tongue and trigger the brain to think you’re burning yourself.
• If you use a lot of cayenne pepper in cooking, you can get a weight loss effect. This is because the muscle cells start to produce heat, even if you don’t move.
  Cayenne pepper helps with colds: take a teaspoon in a cup of hot water.

Risks and caution: Cayenne pepper is widely recognized as safe to eat. However, eating several teaspoons of cayenne pepper at once can give you a stomach ache and possibly nausea. This is probably not due to the cayenne pepper itself, but to its ability to rupture biofilms so that too much encapsulated toxins are released.

If on medication: those taking blood thinners such as warfarin, check with doctor as it may increase risk of bleeding. All you can do is reduce the dosage.

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FACTS:

Capsaicin is the active ingredient in cayenne pepper that gives it its characteristic pungent taste. Its receptor is called transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily member 1 (TRPV1), and it is found on key sensory afferents (feeling nerves).

-> Capsaicin is a lipophilic, colorless, odorless, waxy substance with the chemical formula (with carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen _C18H27NO3). It protects the plant against herbivorous animals, fungi and micro-organisms.

Capsaicin is unique among natural irritant compounds in that the initial neuronal excitation (burning of the tongue) is followed by a prolonged ‘refractory period’, which means that the previously excited neurons no longer respond to a wide range of stimuli. This is called defunctionalization, and explains capsaicin’s therapeutic use in various painful conditions.

Capsaicin has been shown in research to have a beneficial effect in various clinical conditions: such as obesity, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal conditions, various cancers, neurogenic bladder and dermatological conditions. Various theories explain this, and interestingly, many of these pharmacological effects are independent of the TRPV1 receptor.

My theory is that cayenne pepper is bad for parasitic organisms because it breaks up their protective biofilm, allowing the immune system and enzymes to attack and eliminate them. And it dilates blood vessels and increases oxygen supply, which is death to cancer! Cancer grows by fermentation, so no oxygen… but acidification.

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References

• Review: Mechanisms and clinical uses of capsaicin. Eur J Pharmacol 2013 Nov 15;720(1-3):55-62. SK Sharma et al.
• Capsicum annuum (hot pepper): An ancient Latin-American crop with outstanding bioactive compounds and nutraceutical potential. A review. Hernández-Pérez T et al. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2020 19(6):2972-2993.

• Chili pepper intake and all-cause and disease-specific mortality. Yang L et al, Int J Vitam Nutr Res 2023 Aug;93(4):378-384. 
• Counteracts diarrhea https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36451564/
• Spices for Prevention and Treatment of Cancers. Zheng J et al. Nutrients. 2016 12;8(8):495.
• Dietary capsaicin and its anti-obesity potency: from mechanism to clinical implications, Zheng J et al, Biosci Rep. 2017 11;37(3)
• Capsaicin for non-allergic rhinitis, A Gevorgyan et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2015 Jul 14:(7)
• Capsaicin for allergic rhinitis in adults, Cheng J et al. 2006 Apr 19;2006(2)
• Nociceptor neurons direct goblet cells via a CGRP-RAMP1 axis to drive mucus production and gut barrier protection, Yang D et al. Cell 2022 Oct 27;185(22):4190-4205
• Here you will find 17,400 research articles on capsaicin

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Dr. Sanna Ehdin