Why You Should Add A Cayenne Shot To Your Juice Routine
Maybe you’re a fan of spicy foods and always reach for the red chili pepper flakes at the pizza parlour or ask for your curries extra hot when you get takeout. Maybe you’re afraid of anything with an extra kick. The idea of cayenne pepper may make your mouth totally water and stomach growl, or it may make you want to run and hide, but it cannot be denied that cayenne has wonderful health benefits. A cayenne shot every day can do wonders for your body and overall health. It’s bursting with vitamins and antioxidants and is a powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-irritant, and anti-fungal agent. The magic of cayenne doesn’t stop there. Here at Pure Green (the fastest-growing juice bar franchise), we are fans of a daily cayenne juice shot, and here’s why you should be too.
All The Benefits Of Cayenne
Cayenne pepper is a popular spice used in cooking, but that’s not its sole purpose. It also has wonderful medicinal properties and uses, making it a great addition to any diet. Cayenne comes from a shrub that is native to Central and South America. It is now widely grown in subtropical and tropical climates around the world. This shrub grows a hollow fruit that we know as the cayenne chili pepper. It is a long pod that can be red, orange, or yellow.
People have been eating cayenne peppers as early as 7000 BC. Scientists have found seeds on the floors of ancient caves and dwellings, as well as in fossilized feces. Cayenne is one of the staples in the diet of the Hunzas in Asia. Many of these people live to over one hundred years old, and they swear by the cayenne pepper. They consume the pepper daily and prize them for their anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. There are so many more benefits to the cayenne pepper though, and we’re here to tell you all about them.
Cayenne Is Chockablock With Vitamins
Cayenne pepper is packed with powerful nutrients. 1 teaspoon of cayenne contains 44 percent vitamin A, 8 percent vitamin E, 7 percent vitamin C, 6 percent vitamin B6, 5 percent vitamin K, 5 percent manganese, and 3 percent potassium. It also has only 17 calories and 1 gram of protein. Because of it’s high vitamin A content, cayenne is great for maintaining healthy vision, skin, and neurological function. It’s also an antioxidant that fights free radicals and reduces inflammation. Cayenne’s vitamin E content promotes healthy organs and naturally slows down the aging process.
Cayenne Aids Digestion
A cayenne shot can do wonders for your digestive system. First off, cayenne pepper stimulates the salivary glands, helping produce saliva. Saliva production is the initial step in digestion; it’s what kicks off the whole process. Saliva also helps prevent bad breath, so it’s a win-win. Cayenne pepper not only prompts saliva production, it also stimulates enzyme production. Enzymes are essential to digestion, as they help break down foods to allow your body to absorb important nutrients.
Cayenne Prevents Blood From Clotting
When your blood clots, it creates blockages in your arteries and blood vessels, which restricts and limits the flow of blood throughout your circulatory system. So not only does cayenne pepper aid in preventing clots and blockages, it also improves overall circulation. Cayenne does this by encouraging fibrinolytic activity. Cayenne pepper contains a powerful chemical called capsaicin, which helps clear away the lipid deposits that causes arteries to become blocked in the first place. The capsaicin also causes the arteries and blood vessels to dilate, thus helping to clear away any clots that may be forming.
Cayenne Helps Relieve Pain
You probably already know cayenne pepper packs a punch. Its spice is actually what helps it relieve pain, though. When you take a cayenne shot or eat a food that’s spiced with cayenne, a pain response is stimulated in a different part of the body. The brain then refocuses its attention to the new pain and its location, so it no longer concentrates on the original source of pain. That’s why cayenne is great for relieving headaches or migraine pain. The nerve fibers actually end up being depleted of substance P, which is a pain chemical, thus lessening the sensation of pain. It’s like a trick you play on your body!
Cayenne Boosts Weight Loss
Studies have shown that people who took cayenne at breakfast had less appetite the rest of the day, which caused them to consume fewer calories than they normally would. Cayenne pepper not only lessens your appetite, it also boosts your overall metabolism. Consuming cayenne pepper actually helps your body to burn excess fat. Because cayenne raises your body’s temperature, the amount of calories you burn actually increases. Taking a cayenne shot also fights cravings for sweet, salty, and fatty junk foods too.
Cayenne Is An Anti-Irritant
Another amazing benefit of cayenne pepper is that it boasts potent anti-irritant properties. It eases upset stomachs, ulcers, coughs, and even diarrhea. This is largely due to that wonderful chemical in cayenne pepper called capsaicin. While it may seem counterintuitive to take a cayenne shot when you have a stomachache because of its spice, it can actually help soothe the irritation and calm your stomach down. Try it next time you aren’t feeling well!
Cayenne Supports Detoxification
Because cayenne pepper increases circulation and aids digestion, it also helps the body detox. They are both important parts of detoxification. Cayenne also heats the body and stimulates the sweat glands. Sweating is another important aspect of detoxifying. When you sweat, toxins leave your body through your skin. Add some cayenne to your diet or take a cayenne shot to rev up your system and help your body detox more efficiently.
Cayenne Prevents Allergies
Because of cayenne’s inflammatory properties, it has the ability to fight allergies and allergic reactions. When you have an allergy to a food, your body’s intolerance will result in inflammation. Cayenne pepper works to soothe the inflammation and fight the allergic reaction. Next time you accidentally eat something you may be allergic to, try taking a cayenne shot to fight it before the symptoms set in.
Cayenne Is An Antifungal
Cayenne pepper is a potent antifungal agent, meaning it is able to kill harmful fungus and prevent it from forming in the body. One study found that it can fight 16 different strains of fungus, including the common Candida. Overproduction of candida in the body can result in a weakened immune system, digestive problems, joint pain, and hormone imbalance.
Cayenne Treats Psoriasis
Because of the capsaicin, cayenne is actually a remarkable psoriasis treatment. Psoriasis happens when skin cells replicate too quickly, resulting in swollen patches of scaly skin. Cayenne was shown to significantly decrease scaling, redness, thickening, and itching when used four times daily for six weeks. If you suffer from psoriasis, adding cayenne to your diet could be extremely beneficial.
Cayenne Fights Illness
Cayenne pepper helps to boost your immune system because it’s full of beta carotene and antioxidants. It’s also got a lot of Vitamin C, which is great for warding off sickness. Plus, it’s a wonderful natural decongestant. Its spice helps break up mucus and clear the sinuses of any congestion. As it flushes out the nasty mucus, the symptoms of your cold or flu will lessen. Cayenne can help to heats up the body’s temperature, which can induce sweat and stimulate the immune system.
Make Your Own Cayenne Shot At Home
If you don’t have access to a juice bar like Pure Green, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the benefits of a cayenne shot. You can easily make your own cayenne shot at home!
Cayenne, Ginger, & Lemon Shot
This is a classic juice shot. It’s great for when you’re feeling under the weather or partied a little too hard the night before. This shot cleanses the body, detoxifies the organs, and boosts metabolism. What more could you ask for?
You get all the aforementioned benefits of cayenne, plus all of the good ginger and lemon have to offer. Ginger is powerful antioxidant and antiinflammatory. It soothes upset stomachs and aids digestion, like cayenne. It also boosts your immune system and fights infection, since it is naturally antimicrobial. Ginger also stimulates your metabolism and allows you to burn more calories and fat, similarly to cayenne. It can even help your body recover faster and more efficiently after a hard workout, thanks to its antiinflammatory properties. Plus, ginger helps to regulate blood sugar and helps fight cravings. Lemon works wonders for your immune system, due to its high content of Vitamin C. It helps to alkalinize the body, thus keeping the body balanced and healthy. Lemon also boasts lots of detoxifying antioxidants. This cayenne, ginger, and lemon shot is a great way to start your day.
Ingredients:
Juice of ½ a lemon
1 large knob of ginger
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Peel your ginger and add it to your juicer or blender. Mix the ginger juice with the lemon juice and add the cayenne. Stir well. Then down the hatch! Cheers!