Cayenne Pepper Cleansing: Health Benefits and How It Works

Cayenne Pepper Cleansing

Cayenne pepper is quite well-known for its zesty flavor. But do you also know about cayenne pepper cleansing properties? Cayenne pepper belongs to the capsicum annum family and is closely related to bell peppers, jalapeños, paprika, and other types of pepper. Cayenne pepper has a biting, spicy taste and is mostly used to spice up a dish. It is either used in its natural form, or a dried and powdered form.

The spicy, hot taste of cayenne pepper comes from the chemical compound called capsaicin. In addition to providing the characteristic spiciness to cayenne pepper, this active compound has interesting properties that are beneficial to health.

Cayenne Pepper Cleansing Health Benefits

The capsaicin ingredient in cayenne pepper has stimulating properties. Cayenne pepper is usually mixed with other herbal concoctions for more effective results. The capsaicin in cayenne pepper acts as a catalyst that stimulates herbal properties, making them work more efficiently and effectively.

In the cayenne pepper cleansing method, the capsaicin suppresses unwanted hunger drives. It also helps to burn excess fat by boosting the metabolic process. Thus, cayenne pepper with lemon juice can potentially encourage weight loss.

The cayenne pepper cleansing method has been a popular traditional remedy to aid and treat numerous gut conditions. It is used to assist in digestion and to cure upset stomach, slow intestinal gas, and stop stomach pain. Also, it can reduce acidity, diarrhea, and nasty cramps.

The cayenne pepper cleansing method has other crucial health benefits as well. Cayenne pepper can be administered to regulate metabolism, improve blood circulation, alter excessive blood clotting, maintain cholesterol levels, and prevent risky heart conditions. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and works as a pain killer, too.

1. Aids digestion

The capsaicin compound in cayenne pepper stimulates saliva production. Saliva is an important body fluid that enhances digestion and prevents bad breath.

2. Alleviates pain

Capsaicin has pain-relieving properties. It reduces the amount of substance P, a chemical that sends pain messages to the brain. Therefore cayenne pepper has the potential to soothe painful conditions like a migraine, toothache, and shingles.

3. Regulates blood pressure

According to researchers, cayenne pepper has the ability to suppress hunger and normalize glucose levels. It helps to maintain blood pressure balance, and reduces LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.

4. Acts as an anti-inflammatory

Capsaicin in cayenne pepper has anti-inflammatory properties. It can bring relief to painful joint inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as muscle pain conditions like fibromyalgia.

5. Works as an anti-irritant

That fact that spicy foods instigate acid secretion in the gut and cause gastric ulcers is a popular myth. Medical studies have found that cayenne pepper does not encourage acid secretion in spite of its acidic nature. In fact, it actually inhibits acid secretion. It initiates alkali and mucus secretions, particularly gastric mucosal blood flow, which helps in the prevention and healing of ulcers.

6. Boosts immunity

Cayenne pepper is a rich source of essential nutrients. It provides a good amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, and manganese. All these nutrients with their health benefits and antioxidant properties, work towards building a stronger immune system. Thus, it helps to fight against common viral infections like the cold and flu. Moreover, it also increases body temperature, which consequently makes us sweat. This helps the body release harmful toxins.

7. Treats psoriasis

Scientific research has proved that 0.025% capsaicin (cayenne pepper) cream is effective in treating psoriasis when used topically. Psoriasis is a condition where the skin cells replicate rapidly, and result in whitish scales with swollen lumps under the skin. These scaly areas are patches of inflammation. Therefore with its anti-inflammatory properties, topical cayenne pepper cream could be effective in psoriasis treatment.

The Master Cleanse Diet

The Master Cleanse diet was first introduced by Stanley Burroughs in 1940s. The main ingredients in the Master Cleanse are lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup. The benefits of the Master Cleanse tonic are linked with the lemon and cayenne pepper properties. These benefits include detoxifying the body of toxic substances, and boosting metabolism.

This cayenne pepper cleansing diet is typically adopted for a period of 10 days. During this period, you are not allowed to eat any kind of solid food, and must only drink the Master Cleanse tonic. It is supposedly a wonderful weight-loss drink that makes you shed those extra pounds at a faster pace. Cayenne pepper is an indispensable ingredient in this cleansing diet, because its stimulating properties help boost the healthy properties of lemon to their fullest potential, making it more effective.

Master Cleanse Lemonade Diet Detox Recipe

The Master Cleanse tonic is quite easy to make. Here’s a simple recipe to make the Lemonade Diet detox drink with cayenne pepper. Give this recipe a try.

Ingredients:

  • 4 ounces of warm water
  • ¼ tablespoon of cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon of maple syrup
  • Juice from half a lemon

Directions

Take a glass of four ounces of warm water, and add the cayenne pepper into it.

Cut a lemon in two halves and deseed it. Squeeze out the juice of half of the lemon into the glass. Add maple syrup and stir well.

Drink the water warm and at one go.

Nutritional Benefits of Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper has a rather impressive nutritional profile. Just a tablespoon of this feisty pepper powder will give you many nutrients.

Vitamin A

Cayenne pepper contains 44% DV of vitamin A. It is a fat-soluble nutrient that is beneficial for eye health and enhances eyesight. It is also essential for bone health. Vitamin A helps repair damaged tissues and improves immune system health as well.

Vitamin E

Another vitamin found in considerable amount in cayenne pepper is vitamin E. It contains eight percent DV of vitamin E. This fat-soluble antioxidant protects body cells from oxidative damage and air pollution, and helps prevent premenstrual syndrome, cataracts, and diabetes. Vitamin E is also crucial to skin health and hair growth.

Vitamin C

Powerful antioxidants like vitamin C is also available in cayenne pepper. It offers about seven percent DV of vitamin C, which plays a major role in collagen synthesis. Collagen is a structural protein found in connective tissues like the skin, and protects from free radical damage. Thus, it prevents wrinkles and premature aging.

Vitamin K

Cayenne pepper also contains five percent DV of vitamin K. Vitamin K efficiently helps in blood clotting. It also encourages fibrinolytic activity, and prevents excess blood clotting as well.

Vitamin B6

One tablespoon of cayenne pepper will provide six percent DV of vitamin B6. The presence of vitamin B6 in cayenne pepper makes it good for digestion. Vitamin B6 helps to convert food into energy by metabolizing fats and proteins. It is also has significant benefits for healthy skin, hair, liver, and eyes. Furthermore, it assists in hemoglobin production, and helps to carry oxygen to the brain, as well as other vital organs and tissues.

Manganese

Cayenne pepper also offers five percent DV of manganese. Manganese works in association with other essential nutrients, and benefits the body holistically. It helps in bone metabolism and structure, and regulates blood sugar levels and sex hormones. Manganese also assists in metabolic activities and calcium absorption.

Potassium

A good amount of potassium can also be gained from cayenne pepper.  One tablespoon provides three percent DV of potassium. Potassium is an essential electrolyte that works with sodium to maintain normal blood pressure, and to provide relief from stroke and kidney disorders. It also enhances muscle strength.

Cayenne Pepper Alternatives

Cayenne pepper may not suit everyone’s palate. People with a weak threshold for spiciness might not be comfortable with spicing up their lemonade with such hot peppers. Moreover, cayenne pepper may trigger allergic reactions in some people. Symptoms of a cayenne allergy include throat tightness, hoarse voice, wheezing, coughing, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, and hives (skin rash).

Cayenne pepper might also bring about anaphylaxis—a severe allergic reaction to cayenne. Therefore, under such conditions, you can substitute cayenne pepper in the cleanse diet to avoid complications. Here is a list of cayenne pepper alternatives:

Now, understand that replacing cayenne pepper in the Master Cleanse diet will alter the whole purpose of the diet. If you are allergic, or cannot tolerate the spiciness of the pepper, it’s not the end of the world. There are many other concoctions of healthy and useful ingredients you can drink for better health.


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Sources:

“Capsaicin exhibits anti-inflammatory property by inhibiting IkB-a degradation in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages”; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12531428, last  accessed Mar 23, 2017

“Spices, pepper, red or cayenne Nutrition Facts & Calories,” SELF NutritionData; http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/spices-and-herbs/201/2, last accessed March 23, 2017

Olaski, M., “Can I Substitute Cayenne Pepper on The Master Cleanse (Alternatives),” The Master Cleanse; http://themastercleanse.org/can-i-substitute-cayenne-pepper-on-the-master-cleanse-alternatives/#, last accessed March 23, 2017