Feeling Good with Food: Chiles

Those who love chiles or hot peppers swear eating them makes them feel better. One would think that something that HOT would have the opposite effect.

This feel-good painkiller contains capsaicin, a heat-producing chemical that causes the brain to chill out with a flood of endorphins—a mood-lifting natural painkiller creating a sense of well-being. One only needs to eat enough to feel the heat and relief is on the way.

Capsaicin found in the hot pepper is an antioxidant that helps lower levels of bad low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and makes blood platelets less likely to clot and cause a heart attack or stroke. Chiles are also packed with plenty of other heart-smart ingredients, including vitamins C and A.

Chiles are also great for a stuffy nose. If one can’t sleep because of one’s stuffy nose, eat a hot pepper. For those, like me, there’s no way I’m going to just eat only a hot pepper. I’d prefer to use a wrap stuffed with lettuce, tomato, a heap of onions, a little ham, a little sprinkled cheese, and sliced chiles. Believe me, a hot pepper works to unclog a stuffy nose!