Chili Peppers
Spicy! But, very healthy
Chili peppers are vegetables used to spice up foods, mainly in ethnic cuisines such as Mexican, Indian, Arabic, Spanish, Vietnamese, Thai, and Southwestern. Some of the most consumed varieties in the United States are the Anaheim, Cayenne, Jalapeño, and Serrano chili peppers. Capsaicin, the substance that causes the hot sensation in your mouth, is found in the white membrane inside the pepper and not in the seeds as is commonly thought. There are only 30 calories per half cup of peppers. The Frutis and Veggies Matter Web page states, "Peppers contain 300% vitamin C and 20 % vitamin A, as well as small quantities of calcium and iron." According to the George Mateljan Foundation, chili peppers can provide some important health benefits. They state that peppers can improve the cardiovascular and immunologic systems, assist in weight loss, and may reduce the risk of developing high levels of insulin in the blood.
