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The History and Health Benefits of PeppersWhen Christopher Columbus sailed to the Caribbean, he became the first European to discover peppers. He is also responsible for their being called "peppers", after he found that they tasted similar to the European black peppers from the piper family. It wasn't long after this discovery that peppers were being grown and eaten across most of the world. At the end of the 15th century, a Spanish physician named Diego Alvarez Chanca introduced the chili pepper to his country via a written document detailing its astounding effects on health. Since then, the chili pepper has become one of the key ingredients of Spanish cuisine. It is now well-known across cultures that peppers are excellent for health. The pepper is regularly used in the cuisines of Mexico, India, China, Japan and Korea. Most peppers are rich in vitamins A, C and K. Red peppers are the most beneficial in terms of nutrients. They contain the highest concentration of the above vitamins as well as antioxidants, carotenoid and fiber. Antioxidants are excellent for preventing cell damage, aging and diseases associated with aging. They also help prevent cancer. The carotenoid in red peppers is particularly beneficial in protecting the body from cancers of the bladder, pancreas, cervix and prostate. All peppers contain Vitamin K, which helps strengthen bones and provides protection against cell damage and blood clots. More recently, scientists found that peppers also contain an ingredient called capsaicin. This substance is an effective weight loss aid -- another reason why you should consume peppers. Also Read: |