cayenne

Take a flavorful trip south of the border with this cumin and cayenne scented chicken dish. Pounded chicken breast halves and canned black beans make this meal come together in a flash.

First the chicken is seared, then the black beans are sautéed with vegetables in the pan drippings. Sound delish? Wait till you taste this healthy and provocative dish! To get the recipe, read more

Me, I like it hot. You name it, I'll sprinkle a little hot sauce on it. I just like the taste (and the heat) but adding spice to your food can curb hunger, strengthen muscles, boost your brainpower and improve mood.

Here's why:

• Staying slender: A study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that when women added 2 teaspoons of dried red pepper on their food, they consumed fewer calories and fat in later meals. Give your diet a light start; splash hot sauce on your morning omelet.
• Becoming stronger: The curcumin that turns turmeric yellow also helps reduce inflammation and aids muscle repair after heavy exercise, researchers at the University of South Carolina at Columbia say. Enjoy the Indian spice for a few days before a big workout (try stirring it in a cup of lowfat cottage cheese and sliced fruit) to speed recovery.
• Keeping sharp: Curcumin also sweeps out plaque deposits in your brain, which may help stave off Alzheimer’s disease, research from the University of California at Los Angeles suggests. For a savory meal, dust curry spices over rice and beans.
• Getting happy: Capsaicin (the compound that gives chiles their kick) triggers pain receptors in the mouth, in turn signaling your brain to release feel-good endorphins, according to scientists at the State University of New York at Buffalo. That chemical surge not only helps dull the pepper’s bite, but it also betters your mood. Next time you need a quick lift, toss red pepper flakes or some diced chile peppers into your salad or bowl of chilled soup. Now that’s cool!

Source

Oooohh . . . It is getting hot in here. Red hot. Red hot pepper that is. I am talking about cayenne pepper. This spice is hot right now for so many reasons — here are just five.

1. Cayenne is made from ground dried pods of chili peppers. It has hardly any aroma, but makes up for its lack of smell with a powerfully hot taste. The active ingredient in cayenne is capsaicin and it this component that created the heat in peppers.
2. Recent studies indicate that capsaicin, the chili pepper derived compound, kills cancer cells but doesn't injure healthy cells. It is too soon to recommend capsaicin as a cancer cure, it is promising to think it could someday replace current cancer therapies which indiscriminately kill all cells, healthy or damaged.
3. Cayenne has proven to be an affective topical pain reliever for sore back muscles as well as joint pain caused by arthritis. You can make a treatment at home using this recipe.
4. Cayenne may also help to regulate blood sugar levels by affecting the breakdown of carbohydrates after a meal. Based on these studies, capsaicin is being investigated to see if it would be useful in treating obesity. These studies, however, are still ongoing.
5. A principal ingredient in the Master Cleanse and in other food based detox diets, cayenne helps stimulate the body's self cleaning process and breaks up mucous that is clogging the body. And I mean mucous all over the body.

Source

Have you recently gotten engaged and you are dying to show off your ring? It's time to get your hands, not just your arms, in shape. Here are some tips:

• The winter does a number on your hands - you're constantly washing them to prevent colds and flu, and the dry air can leave you skin and nails brittle and cracked. Find a moisturizing hand soap to use that'll kill the germs, but won't dry out your skin.
• It may sound silly, but buy a hand salve like the one from Burt's Bees. Take all your rings off (I know you don't want to, but you don't want your beautiful ring getting all gunked up). Rub the salve all over your hands and cuticles after you get all tucked under the covers. Slip some old cotton socks on your hands, and let the natural oils nourish your hands while you sleep.
• If you get a hang nail, cut it off with nail clippers. Biting it off might cause it to bleed, which won't look very pretty next to your sparkly ring.
• On a similar note, if one of your nails gets a little break, even it off with nail clippers and a nail file - they're more precise than your teeth.
• If you were stressed because you were nervous about when your significant other was going to propose, your nails may have suffered the consequences. Nail biting is common, but now that you are engaged, it has to stop so you won't be embarrassed to show off your ring.

If nail biting is a hard habit to break for you, then read more

Cayenne pepper is made from dried chili peppers, and is known for its strong, spicy taste and smell. It's used in many dishes to give them a little "kick," but it can also be used for medicinal purposes.

Capsaicin is the chemical in the chili pepper that gives it its heat. It has been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines to treat many health conditions like poor circulation, headaches, toothaches, chronic pain, sore throats, and heart disease.

When eaten, cayenne stimulates the flow of stomach secretions and saliva, which in turn help with digestion and gas. The peppery heat from the capsaicin can also stimulate secretions that help to clear mucus from your nose and congestion in your lungs.

This powerful spice can also increase blood flow, which when you're sick or hurt, will speed along healing. Cayenne also has a high content of vitamin A, so it has immunity boosting properties as well.

That's not all - it's also a great source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese and dietary fiber. Keep some in your kitchen so you can add a pinch to stir-fries, canned beans, soups, and even hot cocoa.

Fit's Tips: When handling cayenne pepper, always be sure to wash your hands thoroughly. You don't want to accidentally touch your eyes. If you do, immediately flush out your eye with water. If the burning feeling gets really painful, call your doctor.

Externally, an oil or cream made from cayenne can help relieve back pain. Cayenne contains Capsaicin, which is a powerful pain reliever used in commercial creams. You should be able to purchase an oil or cream containing cayenne from your local health food store. You can also make a cream by mixing a small amount of cayenne pepper with a skin cream, like Eucerin.

If you're more an oil gal, you can also make cayenne oil, all you need is:

• 1/4 cup of cayenne pepper powder -- get a good quality spice
• 1/2 cup olive oil -- again get a good quality oil

Combine the cayenne and oil in a jar with a lid. Allow the mixture to sit for at least 2 weeks before straining.

Fit's Tip: When using cayenne cream or oil, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards, and definitely keep your hands away from your eyes.