Hello World!   Hope all is well in your world today! It’s warm here again & I turned the a/c on again. We’ve gone from waking up to 22 degrees last Saturday morning to close to 80 the past 3 days! I prefer this.

My backyard is cleaned out with only a small amount to go. I can see my brick walkways again! 🙂  I still need to do the rest of the bougainvillea but I will need to get the ladder out of the garage to do so… Not today.

I found some very interesting, & probably, for some of you, controversial info on chili peppers that I want to share with you. I know the properties in chili peppers are good for you, but I’m not sure about their claim to halt cancer. You can make up your own mind. I’m not sure what I think yet, but I do believe in natural remedies.

Earlier this week I felt as tho I were getting sick so I upped the amount of cinnamon & honey I eat daily, as well as the amount of raw garlic. By last night, I was feeling much better & today I’m fine!  But being cured of getting a cold is not the same as claiming to halt cancer. All I do know is it can’t hurt you & it may make your food taste good!  (Just remember to use it sparingly 🙂 ) …

New Research Shows Chili Pepper Compound May Halt Breast Cancer

Who doesn’t love the intoxicating aroma & flavor of fresh chili peppers &

the sweet heat they lend to so many great dishes? Whether they transform kidney beans & tomato sauce into their namesake dish—chili—or fire up tacos, nachos or even pasta, you can’t miss their bold presence.

But they are so much more than just taste enhancers—chilis are also well known for their anti-inflammatory effects: from reducing the sensation of pain to alleviating allergies. As if that wasn’t enough reason to love them, exciting new research shows that chili peppers may also be a great addition to our anti-cancer arsenal.

According to the new study conducted by researchers at Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, the compound, known as capsaicin, found in chili peppers has serious anti-cancer effects. The team of scientists led by doctors Hans Hatt & Lea Weber found that it causes cancer cells to commit suicide (a process known as apoptosis) & halts cancer cell growth in some types of cancer cells, particularly breast, colon & pancreatic cancers.

Capsaicin is a naturally-occurring compound found in all types of chilis & is responsible for giving the peppers their signature heat. In addition to being added to spicy food, it’s also used to generate the hot sensation felt in many pain ointments.

An earlier study published by the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, confirmed the anti-cancer capacity of capsaicin against colorectal cancer. It appeared by stimulating a pain receptor, which in turn reduced cancer development in the gut. In this study, not only did capsaicin reduce tumor development, it also increased lifespan in animals by 30%. More research into the effects of capsaicin on cancer in humans is needed, but the results of these initial studies is promising.

The German researchers believe that capsaicin, in the amount found in most foods, is insufficient as a treatment for existing cancers & this study didn’t assess its ability to prevent cancer. Because the research is in the early stages, it’s not clear whether concentrated extracts of capsaicin in supplement form might be helpful.

How Hot are Your Favorite Chili Peppers?

Typically, the heat in chili peppers is measured in Scoville heat units, or Scovilles as they are often called, with the lowest number being the least hot & the highest numbers being the hottest. It’s not clear whether Scoville heat units may actually be measuring the capsaicin potency in a chili.

Carolina Reapers recently were tested at 2.2 million Scoville heat units, making these fiery peppers top of the list. Compare that to banana peppers which typically have between 0 & 500 Scovilles. Poblanos, or the dried version of this chili—ancho chilis—usually have between 1000 & 2000 Scoville heat units. Jalapeño peppers & chipotle peppers (known for their smoky taste) range between 2500 & 8000 Scovilles. Serrano chilis range between 5000 & 23,000 Scoville heat units while cayenne peppers range between 30,000 & 50,000 Scovilles. Most people would find cayenne peppers quite spicy, yet you can see from the shocking 2.2 million SHU of Caroline Reapers that they are still low on the heat-o-meter.

How to Get More in Your Diet

It’s easy to obtain more chilis in your diet. Add them to your favorite soups, stews, curries, pastas, vegetable dishes & the most obvious, chili. Of course, if you have trouble with spicy food you should check with your doctor first;  no matter how intriguing those Carolina Reapers sound, stay clear!

——————————————————–

Please remember that I am not endorsing this info, but I found it very interesting;  interesting  enough to want to share it with you. I like cayenne pepper & occasionally cook with it, but it doesn’t always like me, so I use it infrequently, & sparingly.

I’d love to hear what you think about this info.

Teabox is having a sale:

1/1-3/31- Get 25% OFF on Order Value Above $100. Only on Teas. Use Coupon Code: TBAFF25. click the link on the right hand side to search thru their many teas!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save