9 Spicy Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper

Relieve achy joints and muscles

The first of many cayenne pepper benefits is that it helps to relieve achy joints and muscles. Capsaicin, the substance that gives cayenne its spicy taste, is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter treatments for arthritis and muscle pain. Over time, it short-circuits pain by depleting nerve cells of a chemical called substance P, which helps transfer pain signals along nerve endings to the brain. Mix a few dashes of ground cayenne with 2-3 teaspoons of olive oil. Apply it with gauze to unbroken skin at painful joints several times a day. The first few doses will cause a mild burning sensation, but you’ll become desensitized after a week or so. Keep away from the mouth, eyes, and other mucous membranes. (These foods are way more nutritious than you thought.)

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