Green chillies are small, straight, shrub-like branched plants. It is mostly green in colour. Green chillies are the main ingredient in every household in India, as well as in Mexican and Thai cuisines. It adds a spicy taste to the food and is mostly used in the seasoning of food.
The green colour and spiciness of chilli are caused by capsaicin. More than 200 types of chillies have been identified, and all of them contain capsaicin. Green chillies can be cultivated for a whole year.
About Green Chillies
Green chillies are a common vegetable used in all Indian, Mexican and Thai cuisines. It is a green vegetable that brings a spicy taste to the food. It is mostly used in seasoning, but in some parts of India, it is also used as a side dish.
Green chillies are also very famous for salads in India, as you can now understand that green chillies play an important role in Indian recipes. Green chillies contain capsaicin, which is an active ingredient for the respiration process that helps to stop low blood pressure and regulates optimal heart health.
However, capsaicin is the main reason for the spice and warmth and has an amazing effect on increasing blood circulation and stimulating the palate. When you consume green chillies, your body releases sweat, but it also has a cooling effect on your body.
You can consume green chillies in any way, slice, chop, dice or slit them and mix it with other ingredients and can be used as garnish for your food. There are mainly three types of chillies used on a daily basis: Black pearl pepper, green long/small chillies and red dried chillies.
Green chillies are the most common type of chillies. They have amazing health benefits and are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. However, India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of green chillies in the world.
Nutritional Values of Green Chillies
Green Chillies have amazing nutritional value, Which mainly includes minerals and vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin A, iron and potassium. The bio-active compounds include flavonoids, alkaloids, tannis, and capsaicin, etc.
Green chillies have carbohydrates, proteins, sugar, fibre, fats, calcium and magnesium in them. It is also rich in several plant compounds like essential oils and steroids. Green chillies are a rich source of antioxidants, too.
Benefits of Eating Green Chillies
When we talk about green chillies, the first thing that comes to mind is the spicy and sharp flavour of chilli, but with the taste, green chilli benefits are huge. Here is a list of some benefits of green chillies.
Helps to boost your metabolism
Eating green chilli can be very helpful for your metabolism, as it boosts your metabolism and helps in improving digestion process. There is an antioxidant present in green chilli called capsaicin, which mainly increases warmth in the body and boosts your metabolism rate.
Green chilli is a rich source of dietary fibre and has low calories, which is the reason that green chillies are an amazing food for weight management.
Green chilli have capsaicin which aid in digestion by increasing gastric juice production and boosting metabolism, which helps body in burning more calories and support weight loss efforts. Dietary fibre in green chillies helps you in feeling fuller for a longer period of time and help in controlling overeating.
Whereas eating too much green chilli can lead to acidity and other gut health issues, consuming 12 to 15 grams of green chillies can be helpful. Adding green chilli to your daily diet can help you in burning excess fat in your body and add a spicy taste to your taste.
Control blood sugar
Consuming green chill helps in lowering blood sugar level in body, as green chilli have capsaicin in it. Green chillies are beneficial for diabetic patients in regulating blood sugar levels. Consuming green chill in a daily diet prevents an increase in sugar levels, but consumption should be limited.
Promotes heart health
It is said that green chilli has many health benefits, but one of them is good heart health. Consuming green chilli helps in lowering bad cholesterol, and on the other hand, it helps with good cholesterol. Capsaicin in green chilli reduces high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Capsaicin also helps improve blood flow and prevent blood clots, as it reduces the risk of heart attack or strokes. It also helps in managing triglyceride levels in the human body. However, it shows that adding green chillies to your daily diet is heart-healthy.
Helps in soothing the respiratory system
Whenever you feel cold or have a stuffy nose, you can go for a spicy green chilli food as it will help in clearing that up. Capsaicin in green chilli act as natural decongestant and helps with cold and flu.
Spicy food with green chilli in it will helps you in clearing blocked nose and alleviating sinus pain and antibacterial properties of green chilli helps in fighting germs that may cause cold.
Promotes skin and hair health
Green chills are beneficial for hair and skin health. Green chilli is rich in antioxidants and minerals that promote healthy hair and healthy skin. Antioxidants in green chillies help in fighting skin infections and help with a healthy complexion. Green chillies help keep the gut healthy and keep your skin healthy and glowing.
Capsaicin in green chillies helps reduce acne-causing bacteria and soothes inflamed skin. Green chilli has vitamins C and E in it that help fight aging. Adding green chilli to your daily diet can help you with hair health and skin health.
Helps in improving mood
Eating spicy food can aromatically uplift your mood. Capsaicin present in green chilli triggers the release of endorphins in the body, as it is the body’s natural feel-good chemical. It helps in reducing stress and promotes good mood and well-being. It also helps with mood swings.
Benefits eye health
Adding green chilli into you diet helps with eye sight as green chilli have vitamin C that helps from collagen, kind of protein that helps on providing structure to eyes. Green chilli are high in beta-carotene that support both eyes and immune system. Vitamin A is essential in maintains night vision and overall eye health.
Other potential health benefits of green chillies
- Green chilli helps in pain relief.
- Rich source of calcium and has great iron absorption properties.
- Green chillies can reduce stomach ulcers.
- Green chilli can also help lower body temperature.
Side effects of green chilli
As we all know, the side effects and benefits of eating green chilli go hand in hand.
Skin and eye irritation: Capsaicin present in green chilli have amazing health benefits, but it can cause skin and eye irritation when directly touched. Make sure to wash your hand properly after handling green chilli and avoid touching your hand on you face and into your eye as that can lead to skin irritation or burning and watery eye. To avoid this situation you can use gloves while handing green chilli.
Gastric problems: Eating too much green chilli can cause irritation on the stomach line, which can lead to heartburn, stomach pain and diarrhoea. Eating too much green chilli can cause stomach burning and irritation. People with stomach issues and sensitive stomachs should avoid green chilli.
Medication interaction: Certain medication can interact with green chilli, like blood thinners, diabetes drugs and stomach acid reducers. Consult to the doctor if any inconvenience happen.
Over-consumption: Consumption of green chilli can damage the stomach lining and raise the risk of ulcers, whereas chewing green chilli can irritate the mouth’s inner lining and trigger a burning sensation in the mouth and stomach. Too much green chilli can cause intestinal distress, and in some people, it can lead to diarrhoea and painful cramps.
Conclusion
Green chillies are a widely used vegetable. They have a spicy taste that adds unique flavour to food. Green chilli has amazing benefits, like managing weight, maintaining skin and hair health, boosting immunity, and protecting against several diseases. Limited consumption of green chilli is healthy.
