The Spice. Uses, types and benefits

Hot spicy. The flavor that hooks and you should know a little more about.

The world is divided between those who love spicy and those who do not want it even in paint. It is so.

On a gastronomic level it is one of the things that I like the most. I like the types and their culinary qualities.

The world of spiciness in Spain is one of the great unknown as at most we use cayenne, pepper and paprika. Little more.

So much so, that even brave potatoes can be transformed into tame potatoes . We must train our palates and fine-tune them for small strong and spicy emotions.

What is it? Why does it itch?

Everyone can say “this itches” but nobody knows what itches. Well, let me tell you, spicy is the burning sensation that vegetables like onion produce. Since the sense of taste in contact with some substances causes it.

In chili peppers, however, itching is caused by capsaicin , but what is this?

Capsaicin is a colorless and odorless wax-like compound that in contact with our mouths produces an irritating sensation for mammals.

Due to this burning sensation, it is used to enhance the itchiness of various products.

In most cases, the culprits that make things more or less itchy are sauces or spices. The pepper alone itches or the chili or the garlic or the wasabi, but not as much as in its sauce versions.

Having said all this I clarify that the spicy is not a flavor, but a sensation of heat, of burning, as I mentioned above.

Next I will tell you about some of the best known hot peppers and their uses.

Pepper

There are many varieties of pepper, but the best known are white, black, cayenne and Sichuan.

Depending on how much pepper you add to your sauce, it will be more or less spicy unlike other seeds or spices that itch (much more) by themselves. You can try a sirloin steak or pepper scallops to start testing your palate.

Ginger

It is a classic of Asian food that is also used for many sweets and biscuits and thanks to its medicinal properties it helps in gastrointestinal and respiratory conditions.

It only chops when eaten raw, when infused or juiced, in both versions it is extremely spicy. One of my favorite recipes with ginger is chicken with pineapple and coriander, but it is ideal to give a fresh touch to your dishes, sauces and dressings.

Chile

Known as aji in Latin America or chili pepper in our country (they say that Christopher Columbus was one of its first discoverers) it is very similar to black pepper but more spicy.

Its intensity will depend on the type of chili, which, as you know, is the base of a lot of sauces such as chimichurri or adored tabasco. Its variant, also known as bell pepper, is known as paprika and is used in recipes such as couscous.

Mustard

Mustard is another spicy seasoning that is made from different kinds of seeds. Here is a great recipe for mustard and honey for you to make at home.

It is widely used especially in France and Germany in all kinds of recipes for its beneficial properties and its low calorie content within the sauces that are made from it.

Wasabi

Its itch is similar to that of mustard. The one that reaches your brain and makes you cry. Wasabi is of Japanese origin and is extracted from a root bearing this name. It belongs to the same family of mustard (hence its spicy resemblance).

The wasabi is mixed with soy sauce giving the sushi a spicy and rich touch . The authentic one does not come in putty, but rather it is grated and mixed at the same time it is to be consumed.

Thanks to its antibacterial properties, it was previously used to wrap raw fish and rid it of anisakis.

But spicy, is it good or not?

One of the myths about itchiness is that hemorrhoids appear. I clarify that this is not so, if you suffer from this ailment you should avoid spicy food, but it does not aggravate your condition.

Another belief is that it causes contractions in pregnant women. The truth is that there is no study that proves this.

It does affect intestinal problems, which is why doctors recommend not to abuse the spicy or not take it in extreme cases of gastritis. Although however , some scientific studies show that spicy is not the cause of this disease , on the contrary.

Chili and other spicy elements protect the gastric mucosa. So, what can we do now? Trial error and not to exceed, of course.

On the other hand, among the benefits of spicy are the elimination of cancer cells due to capsaicin (which you already know what it is because I told you above).

Additionally, capsaicin can help lower blood pressure and stimulate blood pressure.

In summary…

Apparently spicy stimulates metabolism, increasing body heat and thus burning calories.

So the spicy can help you lose a little weight. It also helps lower blood cholesterol levels and lowers insulin.