Health benefits of cayenne pepper and how to grow it properly
Cayenne pepper enhances the flavor of many dishes. In addition, this pungent member of the nightshade family has pronounced healing properties.
Why is cayenne pepper so called? The vegetable owes its name to the Iranian city of Cayenne. It was to the Cayenne port that merchants first began to bring the burning fruit from India, which quickly became popular. Today we will tell you what cayenne pepper is and how to eat the fruit properly so as not to harm the body.
The content of the article
Description of culture
Cayenne pepper is one of the hottest spices in the world... In the wild, the plant is found in tropical climates, where pepper bushes grow up to 1.5 meters in height. The island of Java is considered the birthplace of culture.
The spicy vegetable has become a very popular condiment.... Now the plant is cultivated all over the world in a variety of climatic zones. In our country, burning fruits are grown mainly in hotbeds and greenhouses. Breeders have bred a large number of varieties of this crop specifically for growing at home.
Small bright red pods give the plant an elegant decorative look. The shape of the peppers is very different: spherical, conical, proboscis.
The benefits and harms of cayenne pepper
The product has a soft, pleasant aroma and a hot, scalding taste... Pepper owes its sharpness to a substance called capsaicin, which has many beneficial properties. Capsaicin helps the body resist colds, activates metabolic processes, improves blood circulation and thins the blood, prevents the development of malignant tumors, and protects cells from toxins.
The pungency of foods, including peppers, is measured on the Scoville pungency scale.... Hot pepper or not determines the capsaicin content in it. The pungency of cayenne pepper ranges from 30,000 to 40,000 units. How many scoville bell peppers have? Total from 1 to 500, depending on the variety. In addition to capsaicin, other alkaloids are also present in cayenne pepper: havicine and piperidine.
Pungent fruits are distinguished by a rich composition of trace elements and vitamins... The pods contain fiber, protein, B vitamins (thiamine, pyridoxine, folic acid), as well as C, A, E, K, iron, manganese, potassium.
Despite the many useful properties, excessive consumption of a spicy product is dangerous to health, as it causes a burn of the gastric mucosa, gastric disorders and irritates the mucous membranes. Therefore, use spicy seasoning in moderation.
Care must also be taken when preparing seasoned dishes. Carve fresh vegetables with gloves.
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Fruit characteristics and yield
Cayenne pepper pods are small, 10–20 cm long and up to 2 cm in diameter... A large number of different varieties of this culture are known. They all differ in the degree of pungency, size, shape and color of the pods. A photo of what cayenne pepper looks like is shown below.
Cayenne pepper is consumed at any stage of maturity. Green peppers are distinguished by a milder taste, fully ripened - spicy and pungent. Unripe fruits taken from the bush ripen well at home.
Applying cayenne pepper
Pure cayenne pepper is an expensive and rare condiment... The shops mainly sell spice mixes called cayenne pepper or chili. These spices are based on paprika, cumin, oregano, garlic and salt.
Real fresh or dried cayenne pepper is difficult to obtain. You can find a product in specialized spice stores or proven online stores.
In cooking
The hot seasoning is widely used in the cooking of the countries of Asia, Central and South America, raw, dried or ground. A raw vegetable gives food a piquant taste, it is less pungent than ground.
Spicy pods are consumed as a separate product or in combination with other spices.... The seasoning complements fish and meat dishes, hot soups, stews, vegetable salads and even pastries, desserts, hot chocolate and coffee.
Hot peppers also used as a preservative for food products.
For treatment
Considering that cayenne pepper has many health benefits and is widely used for medicinal purposes... Preparations based on this plant are effective in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and hypertension. It is used to relieve pain and cramps.
There are many recipes for the pungent fruit heal... Creams and ointments with hot pepper extract relieve pain symptoms, eliminate inflammation in the joints and muscles. Special plasters heal wounds and help with toothaches. In addition, cayenne pepper has been shown to be effective in treating fungal diseases.
In cosmetology
For cosmetic purposes, spice is added to creams, scrubs, masksare used for anti-cellulite wraps. Such products increase muscle tone, make the skin elastic and taut. To activate blood circulation in the hair follicles, burdock oil is mixed with pepper and applied to the scalp.
Caution! Cayenne pepper spray can cause skin burns with prolonged exposure.
In dietetics
In diets, cayenne pepper is used to speed up metabolic processes in cells.... The beneficial properties for weight loss are due to the content of capsaicin in fruits. All food eaten with the seasoning is absorbed faster. At the same time, the body gets rid of toxins and toxic substances.
Important! Treatment with cayenne pepper is prescribed only by a doctor.
It should be understood, however, that seasoning alone, without exercise and a balanced diet, will not result in significant weight loss.
Contraindications
In some diseases, burning medicine is contraindicated.... The most sensitive to the product are the walls of the stomach and the esophagus, therefore, the seasoning is used with caution for gastritis, stomach ulcers, and kidney diseases.
Attention! Any use of cayenne pepper is unacceptable in case of its individual intolerance and allergic reaction.
Hot seasoning is not suitable for external use those who suffer from allergic diseases. Pregnant and lactating mothers should also limit or completely eliminate seasoning from the diet.
Cultivation of culture
Hot paprika is a close relative of tomato, therefore, the cultivation technique for these crops is similar. Subject to the necessary conditions, the bushes grow strong and lush, bloom profusely and bear fruit well.
Seeds can be purchased at the store or taken from pods... Before planting, they are germinated in a damp cloth. The sprouts hatch in 2-3 days. Sprouted seeds are planted in seedling containers.
Cayenne pepper is a southern plant, so for normal growth and development he needs a lot of warmth and light. If the leaves become pale and fall off, then the peppers lack sunlight. In this case, additional lamps are installed.After the appearance of 2-3 pairs of true leaves, the plants are transplanted into flower pots (for growing on a windowsill) or into a greenhouse (greenhouse).
The culture loves light, moist, nutritious soil without stagnant water. Ideally, this is a mixture of loam, humus and sand.
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Cayenne pepper does not need a lot of moisture... Plants are watered as the topsoil dries up with settled water at room temperature. For feeding, it is good to use ready-made organic fertilizers for tomatoes.
When grown at home, plantings are periodically sprayed with water... This is especially important if the indoor air is dry. Bushes do not need complex shaping, like their relatives, tomatoes. However, if you pinch the top, the plant will become thicker. To obtain larger pods, part of the ovaries is removed.
For home cultivation, choose undersized varieties up to 50 cm high. Cayenne pepper with a decorative shape of fruits of an unusual color serves not only as a tasty seasoning, but also as a decoration for the house.
Reference.Hot peppers are planted separately from Bulgarian. Otherwise, cross-pollination of the plants will occur and the bell peppers will become bitter.
Prevention of diseases and pests
The culture is unpretentious and easy to care for... With proper agricultural technology, the plant is rarely affected by pests and diseases.
Of the diseases are common late blight, fusarium, brown spot, black fruit rot, black leg. Almost all of these diseases are fungal in nature and arise from errors in watering and care.
For preventive purposes seeds before planting are treated with potassium permanganate.
Important! Peppers and tomatoes are relatives, they are affected by the same diseases and pests. Therefore, peppers are not planted where nightshades previously grew.
Rot appears with a black leg the root part of the bush. Sick plants are removed, and the rest are watered with a solution of copper sulfate.
Sometimes the planting is attacked by gray mold.... In this case, the infected areas are removed, and the bushes are treated with garlic tincture. The same remedy helps protect peppers from late blight.
To prevent excess air humidity, the greenhouse is regularly ventilated. When planting seedlings, a sufficient distance is maintained between the bushes.
Reviews of gardeners
Judging by the reviews of gardeners, growing a hot vegetable does not cause much trouble... The culture is cultivated both in greenhouses and greenhouses, and at home on the window. Here are a few reviews of those who grow a hot seasoning on their own.
Oleg, Sochi: “I have been growing cayenne pepper for a long time, I have already forgotten when I bought this seasoning in the store, I always have my own. You just need a bigger pot, pepper loves space. And so, in principle, not whimsical. Regularly pleases with a good harvest. I keep two bushes, I have enough. I either grind ripe peppercorns or use them whole ".
Galina, Moscow region: “This pepper is good for anyone looking to lose weight. Only, of course, you need to be careful not to add it to all dishes in a row. It can be added to light salads, as well as chicken and veal dishes, then it will be beneficial. ".
Katya, Perm: “Great pepper! I have been growing such a pepper for the second or third year, everyone likes it, I add it when I carcass meat, I make pasta with it, I even made hot ketchup from my tomatoes and this pepper. It worked out great! "
Conclusion
Cayenne pepper is not only a healthy savory vegetable, but also a very ornamental plant. The culture is undemanding to care and has many useful properties. Moderate consumption of the hot seasoning benefits the body and gives the dishes a unique aroma and bright taste.