Many people crave a hot sauce made from peppers to add the perfect amount of flavor and spice to their favorite foods. Others prefer to chop up peppers and sprinkle them on. Though the kick and delicious taste are well-known, some aficionados are surprised by the health benefits of consuming peppers. Here's a closer look at what you can gain by incorporating them into your next meal.

How Do Hot Peppers Boost Your Health?

1. Aid the Heart

Regularly eating chili peppers either by themselves or mixed into condiments like hot sauce can improve heart health. The heat from chili peppers comes from capsaicin, a chemical compound that engages the pain receptors in mucous membranes in the mouth, nose, and stomach. Capsaicin also helps reduce the inflammation that occurs from plaque that develops inside arteries.

2. Boost Metabolism

Obesity can lead to several long-term health problems, including stroke, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Chili peppers may help assist with weight loss by giving your metabolism a boost. 

The body’s metabolism is responsible for breaking down the foods and beverages you consume into energy. By ingesting capsaicin, your body’s oxygen consumption and temperature increase, helping burn some calories. For this reason, adding spicy peppers to your diet may help you burn more fat to lose weight.

3. Clear Nasal Congestion

A nose that's frequently stopped-up or runny without the presence of a cold or allergies may be a result of nonallergic rhinitis. Sinus congestion can lead to headaches and facial pressure because the sinus cavity doesn’t stop producing mucus even if there's a blockage or inflammation. To relieve the congestion, you can eat chili peppers or spicy condiments to open nasal passages naturally. 

Begin enjoying the health benefits of chili peppers with specialty hot sauce and other small-batch gourmet condiments from Pops’ Pepper Patch. Based in Louisville, KY, for 26 years, the business supplies residential kitchens and over 250 restaurants with over 60 flavorful artisanal condiments, including Worcestershire sauces, pickles, chutneys, and other gourmet sauces and toppings. Place your order today by calling (502) 523-6154 or visiting their website. You can also find their products on Amazon.