Dried pepper or the African red hot
pepper is a very hot spice
derived from sun dried fruits of the
African Chili pepper called Capsicum annuum. It is several times
"hotter" than the cayenne pepper sold in the West. Most traditional
African foods are cooked with this pepper; in fact I do not know of ANY African
soup cooked in Western Nigeria for example without adding the red hot pepper!
Hush...Why eat pepper or any spice
that hot?, some may say.
The African red hot pepper is great
in dishes as it acts as a very strong appetite stimulator, as well as a spicy
condiment, providing flavoring for foods. Foods are never eaten bland.
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The African red hot pepper is a
great stimulator of many nerve path ways in the human body, causing intense
salivation, release of digestive enzymes from the gut, increased mental acuity
and encouraging sweating too, a desirable effect in hot tropical climates that
helps in cooling the body.
Dried pepper or hot pepper has been
proven to have medicinal properties too.
Hot pepper (Capsicum) has
been shown to be an anti-oxidant (protect body against effect of dangerous toxins),
anti-carcinogenic (help protect against cancers) hypocholesterolaemic (helps
reduce bad cholesterol in the blood) as well as having antibacterial activities
In moderate amount, it helps to
increase bowel motion and aid opening of the bowel... another reason why
constipation and bowel disorders are rare in Tropical Africa!
The medicinal benefit of hot pepper
has also been documented, as it has been shown to help in the relief of flu.
Many medications found in Chemist around the world has Capsicum, derived from
hot pepper that helps in the relief of back pain, muscle pain, arthritis and
rheumatism.
Hot pepper is also believed to have
some antibiotic as well as anti-parasitic properties.
Boy! I guess you feel like dashing
off to get a bucket load of African red hot dried pepper for your next meal.
The information provided here are well researched and literatures abound to
support them.
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