Green chilly is a common spice-vegetable used worldwide. They are scientifically called Capsicum Frutescens. A green chilly gets its spiciness from a chemical called Capsaicin. Capsaicin provides a hot, spicy taste and many other health benefits on the heart and stomach, along with pain relief. It is one of the most famous spices used globally. Green chilly originates in America and is grown widely in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean.
Chilies are a very essential and interesting part of a proper Indian meal. Without the dash of green chilly in any form, one cannot call a meal as complete and hearty. Sliced, slit, chopped, or the whole one has to add this ingredient to add that oomph factor to served food. It is a star member in Indian kitchens and never really faces the issue of scarcity as it is grown throughout the year and is available in fresh, powdered, dried, and flaked forms in oils, sauces, or pickled forms. It is the main ingredient to spice and brighten up bland meals.
Green chilies cook almost all savoury and regular dishes made in India, like curries, dals, appetizers, etc. The Indian regular cooking starter is a stir fry of onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green chilies, and oil.
One of the best ways to utilize green chili is by making pickles out of them. The general ingredients used to make the green chili pickle are green chili, mustard seeds, salt, cumin, mustard, fenugreek and fennel seeds, lemon juice, mustard oil, etc. This pickle can be paired with dal-rice, curd-rice, veg fried rice, chapati-subzi, pakoras, and paranthas.
Nutritional benefits of green chilies:-
Green chilies are rich in several nutrients. They have bioactive compounds like alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, essential oils, tannins, steroids, and capsaicin. The nutritional components of green chilies include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fibre, sugar, iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, copper, zinc, sodium, manganese, vitamin C, vitamin B1, B3, B2, B6, vitamin A, Folate, etc.
Green chilies are rich in vitamin C, with 109.1mg per 100 gms. Eating green chilies can help to reduce inflammation in the body. They also have antimicrobial properties, which allow them to fight against harmful bacteria. Green chilies are a good source of potassium and provide a natural boost to the immune system because of the presence of a lot of vitamin C.
Properties of green chilli
Green chilies have the following properties:-
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They have antibacterial properties.
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They have antifungal properties.
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They have antioxidant properties.
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They have anti-inflammatory properties.
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They can be helpful with stomach ulcers.
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They can take care of the liver.
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They can help relieve pain.
Uses of green chilli for complete health maintenance:-
The green chilly is a staple vegetable which is used in every Indian kitchen with a plethora of health benefits to check out. Some of them are listed below:-
Green chilli is used to cure chronic diseases–Green chilly has many antioxidants. These antioxidants protect the body from free radicals and stop the oxidation process. The free radicals put obstacle in the body’s metabolic pathway causing unwanted alteration in the genetic structure. Here antioxidants reduce the risk of developing dangerous diseases like cancer, heart ailments and strokes. Green chillies have a lot of chemicals like flavonoids, phenols and proanthocyanidins which are the main constituents of antioxidants.
Green chilies help to cure diabetes–Green chilies have a chemical called Capsaicin. It is an active ingredient that has many health benefits. It helps to reduce the levels of blood sugar. Capsaicin also helps to secrete insulin and control the glucose levels in the body.
Green chilies help to cure microbial infections–Green chilies have biological compounds that have antimicrobial properties and help to fight against disease-causing bacteria like Staphylococcal Aureus, Salmonella Typhimurium, E. Coli, Vibrio cholerae, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Shigella Dysentriae. Green chilies also have natural antibacterial agents.
Green chilies help to fight obesity–Green chilly help to reduce the build up of body fat and improve the metabolism of fat. The regular intake of green chilies can help to reduce body weight and improve digestion.
Green chilies are helpful to treat stomach ulcers–Green chilies can help to treat stomach ulcers. Research has found that green chilies helped reduce the severity of ulcers and stomach acid secretion and improved tissue changes.
Some other valuable uses of green chilies are:-
The green chilly extract has pain-relieving properties against pain caused by external stimuli.
The green chilly extract also has anthelmintic properties, which work against parasitic worms.
The green chilly extract helps the aggregation of platelets in the blood, thus avoiding heart problems. The green chili extract also helps break down existing blood clots.
About NEEK Green Chilli Pickle
The NEEK Green chili pickle is an authentic and homemade pickle that is rich in taste and health benefits too. It has been prepared completely hygienically using fresh raw materials and the right spices. The main ingredients used in making the green chili pickle are green chilies, salt, turmeric powder, red chilly powder, yellow mustard powder, five spices, vinegar, and a generous amount of mustard oil. It can be paired best with chapatis, pooris, and paranthas. This pickle does not use preservatives, but synthetic vinegar in it’s place. The shelf life of this pickle is 5 years.
Conclusion
Green chilies are a good source of vitamins such as vitamins C, A, and K. Vit C acts as an antioxidant and supports immune function, while vitamin A is important for vision and skin health. Green chili has a compound called Capsaicin, which accelerates metabolism, burns calories quickly, and also maintains body temperature. Consumption of green chilies keeps blood sugar under control. It is a panacea for diabetes patients. Capsaicin, present in green chilies, acts as a pain reliever. The regular usage of green chili provides relief from severe pain like arthritis. Capsaicin promotes healthy bacteria in the intestines, which keeps the digestive system healthy. Capsaicin may help lower blood pressure and improve blood circulation, contributing to heart health. The antioxidants present in green chilies, including vitamin C, help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases. The spiciness of green chilies can help clear nasal congestion by opening up airways and thinning mucus. The consumption of capsaicin-rich foods like green chilies can trigger the release of endorphins associated with improved mood and reduced stress. Green chillies are known to be rich in vitamin C, which has the property of beta-carotene due to which the skin glows and wrinkles are reduced. Consuming one green chilly daily does not cause ulcers. It provides relief from mouth and stomach ulcers as green chilies maintain the body's temperature. Green chilies control appetite, which helps reduce weight.
