Pick a Pepper

Bring on the heat and make your dishes go from mild to wild by adding fire and flavor to your food with chile peppers. While bell peppers are sweet and mild, Habanero, the hottest, can be fiery. The heat or fire is caused by the natural chemical in peppers called capsaicin, which stimulates nerve endings in the skin.

Peppers have been consumed in the Americas since 7500 BC and were cultivated around the globe when Columbus discovered that their taste was similar to black pepper. Many cultures use some type of peppers in their cuisines because they add flavor and are believed to have medicinal benefits. Red chilis contain high amounts of vitamin C and provitamin A and are a good source of most B vitamins, B6 in particular. They are also very high in potassium, magnesium and iron. Peppers can be used raw, roasted, baked, pickled, grilled, and in powder form. Since they are so good and so good for you, why not try some today*:

Peppers

Pepper	Hotness Ranking	Notes
*As with anything, moderation is the key.  If you suffer from digestive disorders such as GERD or IBS, peppers can aggravate these conditions so be sure to check with your health care provider before adding peppers to your diet.