They say that there are two kinds of people in the world—those who love chili peppers and those who don’t. Some argue that there is a third kind involving people who love chili peppers, but don’t consume them because they can’t handle the heat.
We don’t know about you, but we love chili peppers. They are a great way to add some flavor to the food and surprise your taste buds, even if that surprise comes in the form of heat. This is why we decided to collect some fun facts you probably didn’t know about chili peppers and share them with our fellow chili pepper-lovers. Check them out.
Use in Medicine
Chili peppers are not only used for cooking. Chemical capsaicin, which is found in chili peppers and causes the burning sensation, serves as a painkiller and has various other uses in medicine.
Samurai Food
Chili peppers were often enjoyed by samurais in Japan before battles. They believed that if they can handle their heat, they will be better prepared for all the challenges they might face on the battlefield.
Weight Loss
If you are working on losing weight, then you should think about eating more chili peppers. Studies show that consuming chili peppers helps burn calories faster as they raise the temperature of your body. They will also reduce your appetite and keep you hydrated as you will drink a lot of water to relieve your mouth from the burning sensation.
They are Considered a Fruit
This might surprise you, but chili peppers are actually a fruit.
Birds Can’t Feel the Heat of Chili Peppers
It turns out that mammals are the only ones that can feel the heat of the chili peppers. Birds, for example, don’t respond to capsaicin and don’t feel the heat if they consume a chili pepper.
Home of Chili Peppers
Chili peppers originated in Mexico at least 6,000 years ago and are considered to be one of the first plants that humans domesticated. It is also estimated that 90 percent of all chili peppers in the world can be traced back to this country.
