That's hot: the dish on Cayenne Pepper

Yes, it really is hot. Hot enough to help you get hot! ;p McCormick spices are available in all local supermarkets. Grab a bottle of tarragon, rosemary, and garlic while you're at it. Explanations soon!

Are you a fan of spicy food like Thai or Indian? Growing up in Dubai, I've developed a soft spot for hot dishes such as Biryani, an Indian (or Arab, depending on their style of cooking) dish made of basmati rice, plenty spices, chicken, mutton, or fish, and vegetables (don't skip the raita or plain yogurt to tame the taste). Little did I know that spicy foods have a million health benefits. Don't get me wrong - you can't sprinkle cayenne pepper on a McDonald's cheeseburger and call it healthy ;p

Chicken biryani in all its glory. My mom cooks a great version of this.

A family friend of ours who happens to be a health buff (think about a 63-year-old widow who looks amazing in her 'skin-tight jeans', with no visible muffin top to boot!) recently recommended we sprinkle cayenne pepper on our daily dishes as it helps hasten our metabolism. Eager to try something new, I immediately grabbed a bottle from the grocery and have started sprinkling it on everything from tuna salad sandwich spreads to the usual salad for dinner. She was right. It did make my metabolism much faster than it usually is. I found myself eating six to seven times a day! The tricky part is managing what I eat during those times.

Anyway, to encourage you to purchase your own bottle and start sprinkling, here are some health benefits found in cayenne pepper. I promise you, you will not be disappointed.

• This herb is a great food for the circulatory system in that it feeds the necessary elements into the cell structure of the arteries, veins and capillaries so that these regain the elasticity of youth again, and the blood pressure adjusts itself to normal. It rebuilds the tissue in the stomach and heals the stomach and intestinal ulcers; in equalizing the blood circulation, Cayenne produces natural warmth in your body; and in stimulating the peristaltic motion of the intestines, it aids in assimilation and elimination.

• Cayenne regulates the flow of blood from the head to the feet so that the pressure is equalized; it influences the heart immediately, then gradually extends its effects to the arteries, capillaries, and nerves (the frequency of the pulse is not increased, but is given more vigor).

• Human circulation; it is warming; dilating; specific for varicose veins; equalizes the blood pressure in the arterial and venous system; equalizes blood pressure instantly actually.

• Cayenne is useful in alleviating allergies, muscle cramp, improving digestion, gives more pep and energy, and helps wound healing with minimal scar tissue.

• Cayenne is a counter-irritant; it brings blood to the surface and allows the toxins to be taken away.

In an article reported on March 16, 2006 by Reuters, the main ingredient in Cayenne, capsaicin, was found to destroy prostate cancer cells. Here is what the article said,

"Capsaicin led 80 percent of human prostate cancer cells growing in mice to commit suicide in a process known as apoptosis, the researchers said. Prostate cancer tumors in mice fed capsaicin were about one-fifth the size of tumors in untreated mice, they reported in the journal Cancer Research. 'Capsaicin had a profound anti-proliferative effect on human prostate cancer cells in culture,' said Dr. Soren Lehmann of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine."

• Capsicum supports the natural beat (rhythm) of the viscera and interior actions of the glandular, circulatory, lymphatic, and digestive systems. It has been used with great success as a cure for spotted fever (?); the most active stimulant to support and re-animate feeble or exhausted powers.

(Source: www.cayennepepper.info) -- I suggest you visit this site as the complete write-up about cayenne can be found here. Did you know that cayenne pepper could stop a heart attack within 30 seconds? Yes, it's worth a 2nd look.