Enlighten me. Is all the hype bullshit?

8/2/2010 12:05:04 PM

Benefit #1 - makes things spicier.

8/2/2010 12:13:57 PM

Benefit #2 - Cayenne pepper is high in vitamin A. It also contains vitamin B6, vitamin E, vitamin C, riboflavin, potassium and manganese.

8/2/2010 12:14:36 PM

It's delicious.

If you are talking about the whole "it speeds up your metabolism and cures all diseases" school of thought, I don't think eating the amount a normal person would want to eat would have much of an effect. If you like it, eat it, and any benefits it may have can be an ancillary bonus.

8/2/2010 12:15:55 PM

I always had a vague impression that hot things cleanse your blood/stomach somehow

probably just urban folklore, though

8/2/2010 12:28:49 PM

Quote :

"Attributed Medicinal Properties Cayenne pepper exerts a number of beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. It reduces the likelihood of developing arteriosclerosis by reducing blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Cayenne also reduces the platelet aggregation and increases fibrinolytic activity. Cultures consuming a large amount of Cayenne pepper have a much lower rate of cardiovascular disease. Cayenne has been used as medicine for centuries. It was considered helpful for various conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, including stomachaches, cramping pains, and gas. Cayenne was frequently used to treat diseases of the circulatory system. It is still traditionally used in herbal medicine as a circulatory tonic (a substance believed to improve circulation). Rubbed onto the skin, Cayenne is a traditional, as well as modern, remedy for rheumatic pains and arthritis due to what is termed as a "counterirritant" effect. A counterirritant is something that causes irritation to a tissue to which it is applied, thus distracting from the original irritation (such as joint pain in the case of arthritis). Many people consume lots of hot peppers in tropical climates as the heat will induce perspiration, which actually helps a person to cool off. Cayenne's primary chemical constituents include capsaicin, capsanthine, beta carotene, flavonoids, and vitamin C. Cayenne causes the brain to secrete more endorphins. It is considered thermogenic, meaning it can "rev up" metabolism and aid in weight loss. Cayenne also improves circulation. Cayenne helps to relieve pain, not only due to its endorphin enhancing properties, but also when diluted and used topically it helps to block the transmission of substance P, which transports pain messages to the brain."

8/2/2010 12:33:14 PM

^^^They've got pills for people that don't want to put a whole lot in their food.

8/2/2010 1:06:05 PM

I'm pretty skeptical of anything that tries to take the benefits of a whole food and consolidate them into pill form.

8/2/2010 2:18:28 PM

Cayenne peppa

8/2/2010 2:41:50 PM

^ That picture brings back memories. Who is it, exactly? I remember him speaking in a Cajun dialect, but I cant remember if he was a cook or something similar.

8/2/2010 3:28:06 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Wilson_%28chef%29

8/2/2010 3:32:43 PM

^
I guarroooontee!

8/2/2010 3:34:09 PM

I have a golden cayenne pepper plant in my garden, not because I was hoping for any medicinal properties, but because I like hot peppers. If any of this is true, nice bonus...

8/2/2010 3:47:58 PM

Cayenne and red pepper are two of my favorite ingredients.

8/2/2010 3:52:42 PM

Unless that block of unquoted text was from the AMA, I'm not sure I'd buy into any of the the hype. Enjoy your ions, magnets, toxin cleanses, wristbands, and every other miracle cure that has absolutely no scientific basis.

It does make food taste great though. My personal favorite that was discovered by accident: replace nutmeg with paprika in any pumpkin pie recipe. Or just use equal parts if you enjoy the taste of nutmeg.

8/2/2010 3:59:59 PM

keeps dogs from shitting in your yard

8/2/2010 4:53:11 PM

^^ It came from the encyclopedia of spices

http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/cayenne.html

[Edited on August 2, 2010 at 4:56 PM. Reason : .]

8/2/2010 4:55:48 PM

^^^ everything in that block of text is well-known, i.e., has been researched by scientists.

it is a fruit, and fruits are high in antioxidants, especially those which are deep in color. and most fruit/veg has your common vitamins such as C and beta-carotene, etc, but each fruit/veg also has unique health-promoting compounds.

i don't know which hype the OP is talking about, but there are no magic bullets for dropping weight or getting healthier. eat lots of fruits and vegetables and oily fish, moderate whole grains and beans, moderate nuts and seeds, and small amounts of dairy and meat. and drink enough water. that's the ticket to health. and duh, exercise.

8/2/2010 7:21:46 PM

Quote :

"I'm pretty skeptical of anything that tries to take the benefits of a whole food and consolidate them into pill form."

I hear what you're saying.

My grandmother sent me some cayenne pepper pills years and years ago. IIRC they were just ground up cayenne in a gel cap. Like you could crack one open and put it on your food. I assumed the idea was to have the cayenne pepper make it to your stomach without burning your mouth in the process. I could be wrong though. This is based on a memory from 10 years ago.

[Edited on August 3, 2010 at 2:15 PM. Reason : -]

8/3/2010 2:14:38 PM

Quote :

"everything in that block of text is well-known, i.e., has been researched by scientists."

Oh?

[citation needed] showing the peer-reviewed research of "scientists" regarding

"reducing blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels."
"reduces the platelet aggregation and increases fibrinolytic activity"
"Cultures consuming a large amount of Cayenne pepper have a much lower rate of cardiovascular disease."
"It is considered thermogenic, meaning it can "rev up" metabolism and aid in weight loss."
"Cayenne also improves circulation. Cayenne helps to relieve pain, not only due to its endorphin enhancing properties, but also when diluted and used topically it helps to block the transmission of substance P, which transports pain messages to the brain."

Because I've been looking, and all I find is bullshit sites talking about the miracle of cayenne toxin flushes.

Absolutely nothing from JAMA on how Cayenne has been a miracle drug for centuries. I'm skeptical, but if you can provide some actual sources of actual peer-reviewed studies showing any of the above affects, I'd appreciate it.

Oh, and the "Encyclopedia of Spices" doesn't show their sources either, but they sure do provide a link where you can buy cayenne supplements. Forgive me if I'm a tad skeptical of their claims.

8/3/2010 4:11:03 PM

Quote :

"small amounts of dairy and meat"

wat? why even categorize foods to people trying to lose weight, just eat less food overall, not eat less specific foods. I basically live off dairy and meat and lost over 100lbs by not eating small amounts of animal proteins. While being a 200lb muscular male, I do not have the same nutritional requirements as a 120lb female but I still feel the dieting approach and lifestyle can be the same.

8/3/2010 4:23:07 PM

^^ For a person that posts a lot of unsubstantiated garbage in the Soap Box, you sure are picky about source quoting.

That being said, I'd like to see someone do a study of peppers vs standard fruits in an American diet (apples, oranges, bananas, etc).

8/3/2010 4:26:38 PM

When I have a sore throat I like to mix it with salt and some warm water and gargle (note, you do not need much cayenne). Supposedly it brings more blood flow to the area which promotes healing. I am far from a scientist so I can't go into further detail but it always seems to help me.

8/3/2010 4:40:15 PM

^^if you're going to call me out, you better be ready to provide examples of "unsubstantiated garbage".

Also, give me a fucking break. Pepper = fruit is not a good argument for the fucking miracles suggested by the encyclopedia of spices. I know fruits are good for you. I know why fruits are good for you. Are you suggesting that I could eat a bushel of strawberries will do any of the things that are quoted above?

8/3/2010 4:46:39 PM

Dear disco_stu and CapnObvious, please take your TSB shit back to TSB.

8/3/2010 4:53:01 PM

lol at this thread turning into a serious argument w/ people swearing at each other

8/3/2010 4:53:05 PM

Quote :

"It does make food taste great though. My personal favorite that was discovered by accident: replace nutmeg with paprika in any pumpkin pie recipe. Or just use equal parts if you enjoy the taste of nutmeg."

OMG this sounds fantastic

thxu

8/3/2010 5:00:27 PM

I did mean to say cayenne instead of paprika...not sure what I was thinking.

8/3/2010 8:53:44 PM

[Edited on August 3, 2010 at 9:10 PM. Reason : nvm]

8/3/2010 9:09:15 PM

Quote :

"lol at this thread turning into a serious argument w/ people swearing at each other"

seriously

Also, ran across this on wikipedia:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6244715.stm

[Edited on August 4, 2010 at 2:22 PM. Reason : .]

8/4/2010 2:19:07 PM