Indian Red Chili powder,India Sree Satha price supplier

Red chili powder is more complex than you might think. Usually a blend of dried chilies, garlic, cumin and oregano, it can also include coriander, cloves or pepper as well. The star of chili powder, the dried chilies themselves, provide both nutritional and medicinal benefits. Some of the benefits rest on solid scientific evidence, while others are still in the research stage.

Culinary Benefits

Chili powder livens up the flavor and color of whatever foods to which it is added. Its culinary benefits make it one of the most popular and widely-used spices in the U.S. Use it in large amounts for barbecue sauces, chili and Mexican moles, where chili powder and chocolate form an unusual pairing. You can also use it more sparingly, sprinkled on roasted vegetables, such as white or sweet potatoes, cauliflower or corn on the cob.

Nutritional Benefits

Chili powder contains trace amounts of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C. The beta carotene in chili powder, a form of vitamin A, provides the same kind of antioxidant effects found in a number of other fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, antioxidant supplements and antioxidants in foods are not the magic bullet people once thought they were, according to a 2008 Harvard Medical School report "Living Better, Living Longer." The article does say that foods rich in vitamins C and beta carotene are nonetheless linked with better health.

Pain Relief

Chilies and chili powder get their heat from capsicum, a chemical that scientists say can reduce pain when applied directly on the skin. For example, a 2001 study in the German journal "Arzneimittel-Forschung" found that a paste made from capsicum applied as a plaster successfully reduced chronic back pain, similar to the home remedy mustard plasters used to counteract chest congestion. The capsicum powder, or chili powder, is mixed into a paste with water and spread inside a dressing made from cloth towels or fabric. It is then applied to the skin along with heat from a heating pad and moisture from wet towels.

Cancer Prevention

Scientific evidence does not support the claims that capsicum can protect against lung cancer from smoking. However, a 2008 article on the American Cancer Society website stated that capsicum slows prostate cancer cells from growing in laboratory animals.

Other Claims

Chili powder zealots list a myriad of other benefits for capsicum, including its effectiveness to cure upset stomach, menstrual cramps, alcoholism, motion sickness and malaria. The advocates also believe it can prevent colds and heart disease and bolster sexual potency. However, scientific research backs none of these claims.

 

Vitamin A

There are about 2,224 IU of vitamin A in a tablespoon of chili powder. That is 44.5 percent of your recommended daily vitamin A intake. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, your body needs vitamin A for the maintenance of your eyesight as you age as well as to contribute to maintaining the health of your bones, teeth, skin, internal membranes and reproductive systems.

 

Vitamin C

One tablespoon of chili powder contains 4.8 mg of vitamin C, which is about 8 percent of your daily recommended vitamin C intake. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements by the National Institutes of Health, vitamin C is an antioxidant. Your body uses antioxidants to fight damage from free radicals, which are unstable molecules created during the energy creation process that can increase your risk of developing harmful health conditions like cancer and heart disease. Vitamin C also helps strengthen your immune system and heal injuries.

 

Minerals

Chili powder is also rich in several important minerals. One tablespoon contains 143.7 mg of potassium, or 4.1 percent of your daily recommendation; 22.7 mg of phosphorus, or 2.3 percent of your daily recommendation; 20.9 mg of calcium, or 2.1 percent of your daily recommendation; and 1.1 mg of iron, or 5.9 percent of your daily recommendation. It also contains 0.2 mg each of zinc and manganese and 0.5 mcg of selenium.

 

Other Nutritional Information

Each 1-tablespoon serving of chili powder contains 23.6 calories, with 1.3 g of total fat, or about 2 percent of your daily recommendation, and 0.2 g of saturated fat, or about 1 percent of your daily recommendation. It contains no cholesterol, as well as 4.1 g of total carbohydrates, 2.6 g of dietary fiber, 0.5 g of total sugars and 0.9 g of protein.