Green chili is an integral part of Indian, Thai and Mexican cuisine; it is frequently used as a spice and as a vegetable. The plethora of nutrition and medicinal quality gives it an extra importance; Green chili is rich in many minerals, vitamins and amino acids essential for human health.
Biochemical and Pharmacological properties of green chili
• Anti –oxidant
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-allergenic
• Anti-arthritis
• Anti- rhinitis
• Anti-microbial
• Anti-carcinogenic
• Anti-coagulant
• Anti-cholesteremic
• Anti-ulcer
• Anti-diabetic
• Anti-epileptic
• Analgesic
Nutritional and Chemical constituents of green chili (per 100gm)
| Calories | 40 |
| Total Fat | 0.2 g |
| Sodium | 7 mg |
| Potassium | 340 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 9 g |
| Protein | 2 g |
| Vitamin A | 2 g |
| Calcium | 0.01 |
| Vitamin C | 404% |
| Iron | 6% |
| Vitamin B-6 | 15% |
| Magnesium | 6% |
•Capicinoids : are the constituents in chili that are responsible for pungency like capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin, homocapsaicin and homohydrocapsaicin, nornordihydrocapsaicin
•Flavonoids : are phytonutrients like myrecetin and luteolin
•Vitamins : vitamins A, C, B,B2,B6, E ,K and P
•Mineral : calcium, magnesium, foliate, potassium, thiamin, iron, copper etc.
•Carotenoids
•Steroids
•Steroidal
•Glycosides
•Polyphones
•Essential amino acids: tryptophan, Lysine, Phenylamine
· Macronutrients
•Dietary fibers: Green chilies are loaded with dietary fiber that helps in colon cleansing and keeping your bowel movements healthy. Fiber is vital for bulking up waste and easing its movement out of the system, preventing constipation.
Potential effects of Green chili in the treatment of Covid‐19 symptoms
Most common symptoms:
Fever: Green chili stabilizes the body temperature by stimulating hypothalamus in the brain
Dry cough: Capsaicin possesses anti-inflammatory properties and green chili contains high percentage of vitamin C which prevent respiratory infection and strengthen the immune system
Tiredness: Green chili contain high amount of beta –carotene, vitamin A and Vitamin C which help in building immune system of the body. Capsaicin also boosts the defense system of the body
Less common symptoms:
Aches and pains: Capsaicin is a natural pain killer. Capsaicin makes the brain to release a neurotransmitter called substance P, this makes the brain think that the body is in pain making body respond to chili, the heart beats rapidly and the natural painkiller endorphin is released.
Sore throat: Capsaicin as an anti microbial, anti-inflammatory agent with vitamin C prevent throat infection and dilate the mucus secretion to become thinner.
Diarrhea: Capsaicin possesses antibacterial properties , it inhabit acid secretion in the stomach but stimulates alkali mucus secretion and particularly gastric mucosal blood flow which helps in preventing formation of ulcers in stomach wall , Capsaicin acts by stimulating afferent neuron in stomach and signals for protection against any pathogen .Green chili is rich in antioxidants and other compounds that can soothe other digestive issues, like upset stomachs, intestinal gas, diarrhea, and cramps.
Conjunctivitis: Green chili has anti inflammatory and anti -microbial properties and the presence of vitamin C and beta –carotene fight against conjunctivitis or any other eye infection.
Headache: Green chili reduces inflammation in the brain and stimulates the blood flow to that area which release endorphin into brain which subsequently diminishes the headache.
Also green chilies are rich in nutrients such as vitamin B6, B12 and foliate, which promote brain functioning.
Loss of taste or smell: The capsaicin in green chilies helps in stimulating the mucus in the nose and stimulates the flow of blood causing the mucus to get thinner. This makes it easy to cure common flu or sinus infection and restore the lost taste and smell sensation.
Rash on skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes: Green chili contains ample amount of vitamin C and anti-microbial properties help in curing skin infections and acne.
Serious symptoms:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath: The content in the green chilies helps to aid the lungs issues as well,such as pneumonia or enema. The rich content in green chili can help to relieve the air-blocks from the lungs as well. Green chilies have natural steroids lanosterol and lanostenol which manipulate the immune system to reduce the inflammation of lungs cells by immediately reducing the cytokines storm in the lungs ,resulting in increasing the oxygen level of the body.
Chest pain or pressure: Green chili reduces blood cholesterol, triglyceride level and platelets aggregation, thus it lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke and pulmonary embolism, Green chili prevents the deposition of fat along blood vessels wall, lowers blood pressure and heart rate . Green chilies have potentiality to reduce blood cholesterol, tri-glyceride levels, and platelet aggregation, while increasing the ability of body to dissolve fibrin, a substance integral to the formation of blood clots. Green chilies are high in Potassium can help relax your blood vessels, which makes blood, flow much easier on your body. Chili also contains riboflavin and niacin. The latter is responsible for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and in turn, lower the risk for heart disease. Capsaicin reduces ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillations. Capsaicin also dramatically improved blood flow to the heart.
Loss of speech or movement: Green chili can also help with new blood cell formation. This is due to the fact that green chilis are rich in copper and iron. As such, they are able to treat symptoms of anemia and fatigue. Additionally, green chili also contain folic acid, which is key to fighting anemia and producing healthy red blood cells. Capsaicin releases the good endorphins and acts as anti-depressant keeping the mood positive.
Effect of green chili on long Covid19 symptoms
Types of Post-covid Conditions/Long covid
Long COVID is a range of symptoms that can last weeks or months after first being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 or can appear weeks after infection. Long COVID can happen to anyone who has had COVID-19, even if the illness was mild, or they had no symptoms. People with long COVID report experiencing different combinations of the following symptoms:
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
• Headache
• Loss of smell or taste
• Dizziness on standing
• Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Cough
• Joint or muscle pain
• Depression or anxiety
• Fever
• Symptoms that gets worse after physical or mental activities
Serious long term after Covid 19 symptoms
• Diabetes
• Mucormycosis
• Bone death
• Multiple organ damage (heart, brain, lungs, kidney )
Multi- system inflammatory syndrome
Capsaicin, Vitamin C and bio- steroids found in green chilies are key ingredients fight against long and serious covid19 symptoms like diabetes, heart problems, bone death , mucormyrosis etc. Capsaicin increases the alkalinity of blood and mucous in the body. The increased alkalinity of blood and mucous in body further inactivate the viruses replication and kills the pathogen bacteria, and immediately reduces the inflammation ,the person can easily get rid of all flu symptoms within a short span of time.
How to take green chili in flu like symptoms:
As soon as you notice the first symptom of flue (fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose headache, body aches etc), immediately start the following procedure:
Take two fresh green chili, wash them thoroughly with clean water, slit them horizontally from top to bottom, then soak these chilies in a glass of water and keep them overnight. After this, in morning filter the water and in which green chilies were soaked and drink it empty stomach.
Keep in mind that you do not have to eat or drink anything at least for one hour after drinking this chili water. After one hour you can resume your old routine. Continue drink soaked green chili water for 3 consecutive days till all flu like symptoms vanish completely.
In most of cases, the person will get relief from flu like symptoms within 3 days of drinking soaked chili water, but if the symptoms persist further after 3 days then he should repeat the same procedure after some days break. For quick results avoid animal,dairy ,refined,packed food products during chili water therapy .
Follow the following procedure :
For mild flu symptom: •Soak overnight two slit green chilies in a glass of water, drink this chili water in the morning empty stomach for 3 consecutive days .
For Prolong flu symptoms: • Soak overnight two slit green chili in a glass of water ,drink this chili water empty stomach in the morning for 3 consecutive days.
Soak overnight two whole green chili (without any slit) in a glass of water, drink this chili water in morning empty stomach for consecutive 4 days.
•Again soak overnight two slit green chilies in a glass of water ,drink this chili water empty stomach in the morning for another 3 days
•Within one week all the flu symptoms will vanish completely.
For children 6- 12 years
•Soak overnight two green chili (one slitted and one whole) in a glass of water , drink this chili water empty stomach in morning for consecutive 3 days.
For children below 6 year
•Soak overnight two whole green chili (without any slit) in a glass of water, drink this chili water in morning empty stomach for 3 consecutive days.
Enhance or boost immunity against any flu:
Soak overnight two slit green chilies in a glass of water, drink this chili water in morning empty stomach for two consecutive days in every week , this will boost your immunity against any flu infections.
Precautions:
Soaked green chili water procedure should not be attempted by
• Pregnant women
• Person having stomach ulcer
• Person having piles
• Person having allergy from chilies.
By Geeta Jha
