Cayenne seasoning is used in a variety of foods, particularly Cajun and Creole cuisine. It provides a hot and spicy taste to the foods it is used in and might be unpleasant for some people to consume. Cayenne pepper has been used for thousands of years in alternative medicine around the world, but it can cause problems of its own if eaten in excessive quantities due to a chemical in the pepper called capsaicin.
Capsaicin
Capsaicin is found in several different foods, including jalapeno peppers and paprika seasoning. Its greatest benefit is its pain-relieving properties due to its suppression of substance P, a pain-relaying chemical in the body. It is also used to treat psoriasis and cluster headaches, and is traditionally used to encourage weight loss. However, capsaicin can have bad interactions in the stomach.
Effects on Stomach
Although capsaicin is a pain-reducing substance that can be beneficial to pain throughout your body, including the abdominals, when ingested in large amounts, it can irritate the stomach and cause pain -- more likely if you already suffer from stomach problems. It can also increase your stomach acid, causing or worsening heartburn.
Taking Cayenne Pepper
The ill effects of capsaicin are worst when you take capsaicin supplements to treat pain. Cayenne pepper can be found in powdered form to season foods, or you can stir it into fluids and drink the mixture. Cayenne pepper capsules and topical creams are also available to provide stronger pain relief -- these should feature at least 0.075 percent capsaicin to be effective. The University of Maryland Medical Center does not establish limits as to the amount of cayenne pepper you can safely consume in a day.
Considerations
Do not take cayenne pepper supplements, and avoid cayenne pepper and other spicy foods, if you suffer from stomach ulcers or heartburn. Cayenne pepper use can also cause kidney and liver damage in large amounts. Talk to your doctor before taking the spice as a medical supplement. Do not give cayenne pepper to children under 2 years of age.
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