Photo: JJ Jordan

What does chilli do to your body?

nourishmagazine.com.au - Health benefits of chillies - Nourish plant-based living

Can you eat Quaker Oats raw with yogurt?

You can eat most types of oats raw — try them atop a breakfast bowl with yogurt and fruit.

Last updated Aug 26, 2018

What is the best thing to snack on while on keto?

Carbs list. A slice of cheese, a few olives, some fatty cold cuts, or a few slices of bacon make excellent keto snacks. Or choose a small portion...

Last updated Jan 23, 2019

Promotion

Brimming with reported health benefits, chillies are becoming a pantry mainstay thanks to unmistakable flavour and reported benefits that may help to prevent some of the most common lifestyle diseases. Loved or loathed, chillies add much more than spice to hearty winter warmers, or summer-inspired Mexican fare. Once believed to be native to South America, the chilli plant may have first been cultivated in Mexico some 7,500 years BC according to a new study from researchers at the University of California. Yet, regardless of its heritage, there’s good reason why it has remained one of the world’s most popular and versatile ingredients. With more than 200 varieties of chillies known, the fruit – a member of the capsicum and nightshade families – ripen with a variety of textures, colours and flavours, and not all are hot. Those that do produce more fire on the tongue are high in capsaicin, a compound that concentrates within the seeds, and the adjacent fleshy sac. It’s this substance that acts as a natural deterrent for animals (including some humans).

Warming to wellness

Boasting high amounts of vitamin C and antioxidants, chillies have been found to help prevent lifestyle diseases including some cancers and stomach ulcers. Meanwhile, their ability to create heat within the body has also linked the peppers to weight loss as well as lowering the risk of type II diabetes. Red varieties, which are typically high in beta-carotene and pro-vitamin A, are said to boost immunity and promote healthy mucus membranes, which may ease congestion of the lungs, nasal passages, urinary and intestinal tracts.

How to eat chillies

From dried and ground to raw and sautéed, there are many ways to enjoy chilli peppers in your next meal. Sautéed vegetables can benefit from the addition of finely chopped chillies, as can Thai-inspired curries. Alternatively, add a little burn to homemade salad dressing with either freshly picked chillies or the dried variety available from your local supermarket spice aisle. For those who are more daring, eating hot, pickled chillies straight from the jar will most certainly add some sweat to the brow. However, those who suffer from hemorrhoids should employ caution, as the hotter varieties of chilli may exacerbate the condition.

How to prepare

Handling and cooking with fresh chilli peppers should be done so with care as the capsaicin may cause burning to the eyes, skin or lips. Wear rubber gloves and remove immediately after handling chillies, or alternatively, thoroughly wash hands as well as all kitchen utensils used in their preparation. If you love extra spice in your dish, you may choose to leave the chilli seeds and inner white membranes intact as this is where most of the heat comes from. For those who appreciate chilli flavour without the high heat, carefully remove all seeds and the inner white flesh and discard well away from the easy reach of children. Remove the green cap and stem from the chilli before cooking.

Chilli varieties

What happens if you go in and out of ketosis?

Cycling in and out of ketosis can cause digestion problems and brain fog — and you may gain back the weight you've lost on the keto diet. Sep 17, 2020

Last updated Jan 3, 2020

How much weight can I lose in 12 weeks on keto?

A safe average loss is around one to two pounds (0.5-1 kg) per week. Here's what studies say about losing weight on the ketogenic diet: One study...

Last updated Oct 24, 2018

Promotion

Get to know your jalapeno from your habanero:

ANAHEIM: When ripened red, these sweet and mild chillies are ideal for stuffing. Green when less ripe, add them to your favourite Mexican dish for a more subtle spice. CHILE DE ARBOL: Spice lovers will want this variety on their dinner plate. Hybridised from cayenne, the chile de arbol is also extremely spicy well before it matures. CHIPOTLE: One of the most commonly used chillies, the chipotle is actually a dried and wood-smoked red jalapeno. Embodying a decent heat, most chilli lovers will be satisfied with the chipotle kick. FIREFLAME: A mild flavour, the fireflame can be recognised thanks to its long and tapering pod, and adds a subtle spice to dishes such as chilli con carne. GUAJILLO: A deep red and amber hue, with hints of brown, this chilli is said to hold a flavour reminiscent of green tea mixed with berries. It also forms the basis for many sauces in its native Mexico. HABANERO: If you’re one of the ‘some’ who like it hot, this feisty fruit may be for you. Paired well with tomato-based dishes, the habanero will do more than break a sweat. JALAPENO: Eaten green, the hot jalapeno (pronounced hala-peen-yo) is a smaller chilli, usually shaped like a small triangle. Often pickled, they are ideal on sandwiches as well as in any dish that requires a little extra heat. PABLANO: A common sauce ingredient, the pablano is often stuffed and produces a mild flavour.

Photo by Elle Hughes on Unsplash

nourishmagazine.com.au - Health benefits of chillies - Nourish plant-based living

Can I give almond milk on keto?

Unsweetened almond milk contains just 1.4 grams of carbs and is rich in important nutrients when fortified, making it a nutritious, keto-friendly...

Last updated Mar 15, 2021

Who should not eat cottage cheese?

Dairy allergy In addition to lactose, cottage cheese contains casein and whey, two types of protein in cow's milk to which some people are...

Last updated Jun 16, 2019

Promotion

Why am I eating 2000 calories and not losing weight?

This is called a weight loss plateau. The initial weight loss is usually just water weight and not fat loss. The plateau is caused by loss of...

Last updated Jul 6, 2022

Promotion

What should be avoided in dirty keto?

Dirty Keto Foods Processed cheese. Sugar-free sodas and other drinks. Bunless fast-food burgers. Pre-packaged meats. Pork rinds. Bacon made with...

Last updated Nov 2, 2022