What is inflammation?
Contrary to what most people think, inflammation in itself is not an infection. However, it can be caused by infection and a host of other reasons. As we all know, inflammation is a physical condition in which a particular part of the body, the joints for instance, swell up and is accompanied by severe pain. It also restricts motor movement considerably. It can also be caused by a physical damage, like when a tissue is torn due to a fall or extreme physical activity.
Considering all these various causes, one can confidently say that inflammation is a widespread condition. As per a recent study concluded by the Arthritis foundation, one out of every 7 people in the world suffers from inflammation at one point or the other. Although it may affect people of all age groups, the condition is found to be rather severe in people of the 55+ age group.
Types of inflammation
It can broadly be classified into two
1. Acute inflammation: This occurs mostly due to physical damage due to an accident. It is accompanied by severe pain in the affected area, swelling and redness. This can also be caused due to the side effects of certain medications. In most cases, it will alleviate in a matter of days, but in some cases, it can persist for weeks. Continuous care and adequate rest is vital in tackling this condition.
2. Chronic inflammation: This is a more serious one because the patient suffers from the symptoms of inflammation for years at an end. This may be caused due to other underlying issues like arthritis, periodontitis, hay fever etc
Red chilli as an anti-inflammation agent
No matter which type of inflammation you are suffering from, you need to consult a doctor as quickly as possible. In addition to the regular medicines, one should follow an anti-inflammation diet for best results. To this end, it is difficult to find a more effective natural solution that red chilli. According to scientists at the American Health Association, red chilli contains a phytochemical capsaicin, which is a known anti-inflammatory agent. It can effectively lower the level of compound P, which is known to cause the onset of inflammation. It can also numb the nerve cells that communicate to the nervous system to intensify pain in the affected location. Another major effect of consuming red chilli is that it can enhance the production of endorphins which are the pain relieving enzymes produced by the body. Red Chillies also have copious amounts of salicylates which can induce calmness in the patients.
Apart from these benefits, Red Chilli also has the following advantages
• Cardiovascular benefits by reducing formation of blood clots
• Weight loss because it can increase metabolism rate of the body.
How to include red chill in your diet?
Most Indian curries include red chilli. You can start learning some cuisines which include red chilli. This will be advantageous in the long run. Make sure you do not consume too much of red chilli as this can lead to other complications.
– Written by Jaga Salai, a food technologist, working as Production Manager in Alobha Exim
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