Jalapenos are a type of chili pepper that is commonly used in Mexican and Southwestern cuisine. They are known for their spicy flavor but also have some surprising health benefits. In this article, we will explore the healing properties of chili peppers like jalapenos and discuss how they can be used to improve overall health and well-being.

If you love the flavor and spice of jalapenos, you can incorporate them into your diet safely. Jalapenos are a great source of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can help boost your immune system. They are rich in vitamins A and C and potassium. Jalapenos also have carotene — an antioxidant that may help fight damage to your cells – and folate, vitamin K, and B vitamins. Many of their health benefits come from a compound called capsaicin.

We will also look at the different ways that jalapenos can be consumed and the potential side effects of eating too many jalapenos.

How to incorporate jalapenos into your diet?

Jalapenos, one of the most popular peppers in many dishes, are used for their spicy taste and heat. They can range in heat from mild to hot. To determine the heat level of peppers like jalapenos, touch and smell them to get an idea if you want a mild or spicy meal. To make jalapenos more potent, leave them on the plant until they become too hot to touch. Another way is to store them at room temperature or place them in cold water before use so that they will release heat into the surrounding area. To boost your health, eat them plain, sliced into a salad, or cooked into various dishes.

Research on jalapenos/chili peppers in the treatment of osteoarthritis:

Using chili peppers like jalapenos as the remedy for pain has been around for a long time. This is because capsaicin, which gives them their spicy flavor, creates a burning sensation upon contact. This provides immediate relief and an effective counterirritant to alleviate the discomfort caused by aches such as toothaches.

It took significant time and research for scientists to understand how capsaicin could penetrate pain-sensing nerve fibers and provide extended relief from pain. After studying this phenomenon since the mid-1800s, it wasn’t until 1979 that a breakthrough was made. A researcher Tony Yaksh at the Mayo Clinic discovered in laboratory studies that repeated applications of concentrated capsaicin depleted levels of ‘substance P,’ a neuropeptide within nerve fibers that spurs inflammation and irritation. Without substance P, nerves can’t transmit pain signals to the brain.

A 1991 Case Western Reserve University analysis assessed the effectiveness of peppers like jalapenos with capsaicin, which, when applied as a cream, helped alleviate arthritic pain. Over four weeks, 101 individuals with either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis experienced a reduction in symptoms by 33-57%. This shows that the treatment options available effectively reduced the patient’s pain and discomfort. In a 1991 US study, 252 people with diabetic neuropathy used capsaicin cream or a placebo for eight weeks. The results showed that those who used capsaicin reported a 58% improvement in pain relief compared to the control group.

Other uses of capsaicin in jalapenos include weight loss, fiber increment, reduction of cancer risk, improvement of heart health, and prevention of liver damage. Jalapenos are easy to cook and can be added to your favorite dishes.

How to treat a condition with capsaicin?

Use an over-the-counter ointment containing 0.025 percent capsaicin for sore joints or feet four times a day for three to four weeks if you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or diabetic neuropathy. A stinging, burning, or reddening of the skin is first felt by about 40% of those who try it; however, when the capsaicin desensitizes nerves, these symptoms subside. Use a cream with 0.075 percent capsaicin if you have nerve pain following shingles.