Download Cayenne Pepper

Should You Be Eating More
Cayenne Peppers?
By: Amanda Mangus
Cayenne Pepper
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Scientific Name: Capsicum annuum
Family: Solanaceae
The peppers have been used as food and
medicine for over 9,000 years, especially by the
Native Americans.
Christopher Columbus brought it to Europe after
his second voyage to America.
Of the 1,700 varieties of pepper from the
Americas, Cayenne Pepper has received the
most medical interest.
Uses of Cayenne Pepper
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Cancer Treatment
Obesity Treatment
Headache Relief
Arthritis Treatment
Treats Digestive
Ailments
Reduces Muscle
Cramps
Among many others
Active Ingredient
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Cayenne Peppers contain capsaicin which not
only gives the peppers their hot and spicy flavor
but is also responsible for the peppers medicinal
properties.
Other active ingredients include: Vitamin A,
Vitamin C, Flavonoids, and Cartenoids. The latter
two have antioxidant properties.
How it Works
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To alleviate arthritis, muscle cramps, and digestive
ailments, Capsaicin depletes a pain producing substance,
P, that sends pain signals to the brain which in turn
temporarily provides pain relief. Basically, producing a
numbing effect. However, it can only penetrate about ½’
of skin so it can relieve deep tissue pain. Cayenne
Pepper is available in topical cream in a 0.025% and a
0.075% concentration for these purposes. Cayenne
pepper is taken orally to relieve digestive pains.
To treat obesity, Capsaicin boosts heat generation of the
body which causes the body to burn more energy. To be
effective 8 to 25 micromoles need to be consumed per
day.
How it Works, Cont.
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To relieve headaches, cayenne pepper is administered by
a doctor into the nose. The high concentrations block Cfibre conduction and result in long lasting sensory
deficits. It is found to relieve cluster headaches and
possibly reduce the occurrence.
Cayenne peppers are consumed to reduce risk of cancer.
Researchers from Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer
Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that the
Capsaicin reduced cell proliferation. Also, they believe
Capsaicin could possibly improve the apoptotic
mechanism that cancer cells are so good at dodging. In
mice, it induced 80% of the prostate cancer cells to
apoptosis.
Conclusions
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Arthritis Treatment – relieves pain temporarily but does
not cure
Headaches – diminishes cluster headaches and possibly
migraines
Cancer – slowed growth of tumors in Prostate Cancer
but not necessarily every cancer also high increase of
peppers may increase risk of stomach cancer
Obesity – showed decrease in body fat but results only
last a small period of time if it is not taken continuously
Muscle Cramps – relieves pain temporarily but does not
cure
Digestive Ailments – pain relief
Works Cited
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http://sulcus.berkeley.edu/mcb/165_001/papers/manuscrip
ts/_784.html
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/cayenne-000230.htm
http://www.vitamins-supplements.org/herbalsupplements/cayenne-pepper.php
http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxificationdiet/cayenne.htm
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id
=62587
http://www.wright.edu/admin/fredwhite/pharmacy/popular
_nremedies.html
http://altmed.creighton.edu/cayenne/Studies.htm
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-03/aafcpch031306.php