A healthy and unavoidably tasty choice
The habanero pepper is a south American pepper; it hails from the Amazon region of Peru but thought to have originated from Mexico, where it grows mainly in Yucatan Peninsula. It is a common kind of chili pepper. They have some colors variant, but the most common are orange and red. It is known as one of the hottest chilies in the world. Therefore many people use it as the main ingredient for chili sauce.
The pepper has a unique, citrus-like taste with a subtle hint of smoke that makes it very popular in hot sauces, powders, and rub. The SHU (Scoville heat unit) of habanero pepper is 100,000-350,000, Scoville unit is the measurement of the spiciness of chili pepper. The most common color variants are orange and red, but the fruit may also be white, brown, yellow, green, or purple. Typically, a ripe habanero is 2–6 cm (0.8–2.4 in) long and has a pod-like shape with smooth skin. Habanero pepper has a phytonutrient called capsaicin which is responsible for its spiciness.
The habanero is a perennial flowering plant. This implies that with proper care and growing conditions, it can produce flowers (and thus fruit) for many years.
Habanero bushes are good candidates for a container garden. In temperate climates, though, it is treated as an annual, dying each winter and being replaced the next spring. In tropical and subtropical regions, the habanero, like other chiles, will produce year-round. As long as conditions are favorable, the plant will set fruit continuously.
The most impressive aspect of a habanero pepper’s nutrition is its vitamin C content. A single habanero pepper contains more than 100% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. It also contains about 9% of the daily intake of vitamin A.
Like we said earlier the spiciness of habanero pepper comes from capsaicin. The research was made on this phytonutrient. And it was found out that people who eat spicy food on a regular basis i.e. Food rich in capsaicin live longer than those who don’t. Also, they are less likely to die from heart-related diseases, respiratory diseases, etc.
The capsaicin present in habanero pepper acts as an anti-inflammatory by slowing down the production of the substance. It also helps in reducing pains and swellings. However, it is a low-sodium, calorie-free, and fat-free pepper. Also, capsaicin helps the body to burn fat at a fast rate as the hot sensation increases human thermogenesis. This is a condition where the temperature of the human body is raised and what is given out is energy. The energy released comes from the fat (burning of fat) which in turn helps in weight loss.
Habanero pepper helps to prevent cardiovascular diseases with the help of capsaicin present in it. This component helps stimulates the nerves of the body to favor increase flow of blood and lower blood pressure. Therefore, there is an increase in the insulin-like growth factor which helps lower the cholesterol level of the blood to prevent any form of cardiovascular disease.
Habanero pepper helps to relieve cold by opening clogged sinuses. The hot sensation helps to relieve the respiratory system by removing the mucous out.
Heats of pepper vary with;
- Climate
- Stress on plant
- Ripeness at harvest time
- Plant genetics
- Watering schedule
- Growing conditions
Habanero pepper can be used to prepare many spicy and delicious meals. It can be used in preparing your meals. Enjoy its flavor spicy taste.