Cayenne peppers, scientifically known as Capsicum annuum,belong to the Solanaceae or nightshade plant family, which also includes tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes (1Trusted Source).

They’re a type of chili pepper and have a moderately hot, spicy flavor thanks to a compound called capsaicin (2Trusted Source).

Hot peppers like cayenne peppers may offer some health benefits, but research is limited on the potential health benefits related to cayenne pepper consumption specifically.

Note that capsaicin, the compound that gives cayenne peppers their signature spicy flavor, is linked to some health benefits when consumed in supplement form (3Trusted Source).

However, since the related research didn’t investigate cayenne pepper specifically, more studies are needed.

Nonetheless, adding cayenne peppers to your diet may benefit your health in a few ways.

Here are 6 potential benefits of cayenne pepper, plus tips on how to use it.

picking a cayenne pepper off the vineShare on Pinterest
Harald Walker/Stocksy United

Cayenne peppers and other types of hot peppers are a concentrated source of many nutrients and can be a healthy addition to your diet.

Here’s the nutritional breakdown for one 45-gram hot red chili pepper (4Trusted Source):

  • Calories: 18
  • Protein: 0.8 grams
  • Fat: 0.2 grams
  • Carbs: 3.9 grams
  • Fiber: 0.7 grams
  • Vitamin C: 72% of the DV
  • Provitamin A: 48% of the Daily Value (DV)
  • Vitamin B6: 13% of the DV
  • Vitamin K: 5% of the DV

As you can see, just one chili pepper provides an impressive amount of nutrients.

Chili peppers like cayenne peppers are especially rich in provitamin A carotenoids and vitamin C.

Vitamin A exists in two forms: provitamin A and preformed vitamin A. Provitamin A carotenoids are found in plant foods, while preformed vitamin A is concentrated in animal foods (5Trusted Source).

Provitamin A carotenoids found in cayenne include alpha carotene and beta carotene, which the body can convert into the active form of vitamin A (6Trusted Source7Trusted Source).

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient that’s involved in many aspects of health. For example, it’s necessary for (7Trusted Source8Trusted Source):

  • the functioning of the immune system
  • vision
  • reproduction
  • growth and development
  • bone health

Plus, hot peppers like cayenne peppers are packed with vitamin C.

Just one 45-gram chili pepper provides 72% of this nutrient. Like vitamin A, vitamin C is essential to immune health. It also plays critical roles in collagen production, iron absorption, and neurotransmitter synthesis (9Trusted Source).

Additionally, hot peppers like cayenne peppers provide nutrients like B6, vitamin K, potassium, and magnesium.

Even though cayenne peppers are nutritious, most people can only handle a small portion because of their intense spicy flavor. However, consuming small amounts of cayenne regularly could contribute to the improved intake of certain nutrients.

SUMMARY

Chili peppers like cayenne peppers are high in a number of nutrients, including vitamin C and provitamin A.online, 7/25/2022,  

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-benefits-of-cayenne-pepper