Some Like It Hot

From the article at:

Hot Pepper Compund Kills Prostrate Cancer

“A hot pepper compound known as capsaicin may help men fight prostate cancer, according to a new study published in the March 15 issue of Cancer Research. The study, led by Soren Lehmann and colleagues from the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA, found the hot pepper component induced deaths of about 80 percent of prostate cancer cells growing in mice…”

“The dose of pepper extract fed orally to the mice was equivalent to 400 milligrams of capsaicin for a 200-pound man, the amount found in three to eight fresh habanera peppers, according to the researchers…”

Well, men aren’t exactly mice in most cases, so the study is indicative rather than proof, but there are a lot of other benefits to a diet that includes cayenne or other hot peppers. I wouldn’t advise trying to take those levels of capsaicin though, as habaneras are about 10 times hotter than cayenne so that would amount to 30 to 80 cayenne a day, according to the Scoville Heat Index:

http://www.calantilles.com/scoville.html

Still, we all know an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so a reasonable amount in the diet as a preventative seems advisable. Cayenne coupled with the health benefits of ginger and turmeric and a decent diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and a restrained amount of milk may maximize our health potential. And make the kitcherie taste good to boot. I wouldn’t advise partaking of foods with these spices in them, then thinking it made us exempt so we can chronically overdose our systems with white flour, sugar, excess oils (even ghee), and milk products eaten merely for enjoyment.

Here is a bit about health benefits of ginger:

Migraines and Cardiovascular

Here is a link about the benefits or turmeric:

Turmeric Is an Effective Preventative