Cayenne is a powerful promoter of peak circulation.** It optimizes cardiovascular health and features antioxidant properties.** In addition, Cayenne:
What is Cayenne?
Cayenne is a variety of spicy chili pepper with a long history of use in Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese, and other Asian wellness practices. The pepper is most commonly used as a culinary spice. Renowned for its fiery flavor, cayenne gets its heat from the compound capsaicin, which has antioxidant qualities. When the pepper is harvested at peak ripeness and ground into powder, the resulting spice is known as paprika.**
Cayenne is highly regarded for supporting many aspects of overall well-being, especially cardiovascular, circulatory and digestive health. Research has suggested that it supports cardiovascular health by encouraging blood flow. Cayenne is popular for digestive health, and is sometimes used to ease gastric distress including stomachaches and gas. It has also been studied for its influence on weight management via metabolic health.**
In topical cream form, cayenne is used to promote comfort, especially in those with sore muscles, achy joints, post-operative discomfort, and low back discomfort. Notably and uniquely, the pepper’s capsaicin is believed to soothe away discomfort without numbing tactile sensations.**
Cayenne Supplements
Cayenne supplement products are derived from its namesake pepper plant, botanically known as Capsicum annuum. The pepper’s flavor in foods is notably hot, with supplement form better suited to those who find the spice to be too potent. The Scoville scale, which measures the spicy heat of peppers, ranges from 0 to 16,000,000 Scoville heating units (SHU). Cayenne generally ranks in the range of 30,000 to 50,000 SHU, making it a potent, but not overly hot, pepper. Most cayenne supplements present 40,000 heating units.**
Supplements supply the pepper’s most active constituent, the alkaloid capsaicin, along with a supporting cast of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin E, potassium, manganese, and potent antioxidant carotenoids.**
Cayenne supplements are often presented as capsules supplying 400-500 mg of the spice. Topical creams, ointments and gels are often used to promote comfort in joints and muscles, usually presenting 0.25% or 0.75% capsaicin.**
Cayenne Directions for Use
It is important to consult with your health care provider before starting any supplementation program. Although there is no standard dosage, the pepper is often taken in 450 to 500 mg form, between one to three times per day.**
