US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton swears by hot sauce to help boost her immunity. Here's why chillies are good for your health
As America awaits the verdict on who their next President will be, we've got an interesting anecdote on what probably played a key role in Hillary Clinton's arduous presidential campaign trail. Believe it or not, it's hot sauce.
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The US Democratic presidential candidate recently revealed in an interview that one thing she carries with her everywhere is a Texan brand of sriracha hot sauce made with fiery chilli peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar and salt. According to the 69-year-old, eating hot sauce in moderation helps keep her strong. And this isn't the first time Clinton has revealed her love for hot sauce. Apparently, it goes back to the 1990s, when she reportedly had a collection of more than 100 hot sauces.
Hillary Clinton
"Chillies are good for health because they are an excellent source of several nutrients — Vitamin, A, B, C and E and minerals like molybdenum, manganese, folate, potassium, thiamin, and copper," informs 27-year-old Tehzeeb Lalani, who heads health and wellness consultancy firm, Scale Beyond Scale. She adds, "Vitamins A and C contain beta-carotenoid compounds, which are powerful antioxidants. They counter the cellular damage that our body goes through and this gives chillies their immune-boosting properties."
Tehzeeb Lalani
Other immunity boosters in your kitchen cabinet
Garlic: With three powerful compounds (allicin, ajoene and thiosulfinates) present in it, the pungent spice protects your body against bacterial and viral infections.
Cumin: A rich source of dietary fibre, B-Complex vitamins and minerals like iron and calcium, cumin aids digestion and helps fight viral infections like common cold.
Turmeric: While the West has only recently discovered the goodness that is haldi doodh, turmeric has been integral to grandmother's nuskhas since time immemorial.
Asafoetida: Locally known as hing, it helps prevent cancer, protects skin against infections and clears disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract.
Chilly-Ing Facts
> Chillies contain an alkaloid compound called capsaicin (which gives it spicy character), which has anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic and anti-diabetic properties. It is also found to reduce LDL cholesterol levels in obese individuals.
> They act as detoxifiers as they remove waste products from our body and increase the supply of nutrients to the tissues.
> Chillies stimulate the release of endorphins that are natural pain-killers.
> It has been noted that Vitamin C, beta-carotene and folic acid found in chillies specifically reduces the risk of colon cancer. Chilli consumption has also been linked to lowered risk of having lung, stomach and prostate cancer
> Consuming chillies helps open up blocked nostrils too.
Red vs green chillies
Both are good sources of minerals (iron, potassium and copper) and contain fairly equal amounts of Vitamin A, B and K, but red chillies have a higher Vitamin C content. "You can have whole or powdered red chillies every day but when consumed in excess, they cause inflammation and an increased chance of stomach ulcers," cautions Lalani.
Go desi
Curd Chilli: These are small green chillies soaked in yoghurt or buttermilk and salt, then sun baked for nearly a week. Fry them in a little oil and serve as a condiment.
Reshampatti: A short, broad conical, maroon-coloured chilli with medium heat. Kashmiri: A flavourful, intense red chilli grown in Kashmir. It is a largish chili with medium conical shape and a fruity flavour.
Did you know?
100 grams of fresh chillies provide about 240 per cent of our daily Vitamin C requirement, which helps develop resistance against infectious agents
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