Red chili (Lal mirch) लाल मिर्च

Chili peppers (Capsicum annuum) are the fruits of Capsicum pepper plants, notable for their hot flavor.

They are members of the nightshade family, related to bell peppers and tomatoes. Many varieties of chili peppers exist, such as cayenne and jalapeño.

Chili peppers are primarily used as a spice and can be cooked or dried and powdered. Powdered, red chili peppers are known as paprika.

Capsaicin is the main bioactive plant compound in chili peppers, responsible for their unique, pungent taste and many of their health benefits.

This article tells you everything you need to know about chili peppers.

Nutrition facts
The nutrition facts for 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of raw, fresh, red chili peppers are (1Trusted Source):

Calories: 6
Water: 88%
Protein: 0.3 grams
Carbs: 1.3 grams
Sugar: 0.8 grams
Fiber: 0.2 grams
Fat: 0.1 grams
SUMMARY
Chili peppers provide some carbs and offer a small amount of protein and fiber.
Vitamins and minerals
Chili peppers are rich in various vitamins and minerals.

However, since they are only eaten in small amounts, their contribution to your daily intake is minuscule. These spicy fruits boast (2Trusted Source):

Vitamin C. Chili peppers are very high in this powerful antioxidant, which is important for wound healing and immune function.
Vitamin B6. A family of B vitamins, B6 plays a role in energy metabolism.
Vitamin K1. Also known as phylloquinone, vitamin K1 is essential for blood clotting and healthy bones and kidneys.
Potassium. An essential dietary mineral that serves a variety of functions, potassium may reduce your risk of heart disease when consumed in adequate amounts.
Copper. Often lacking in the Western diet, copper is an essential trace element, important for strong bones and healthy neurons.
Vitamin A. Red chili peppers are high in beta carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A.
SUMMARY
Chili peppers are rich in various vitamins and minerals but usually eaten in small amounts — so they don’t contribute significantly to your daily micronutrient intake.

Other plant compounds
Chili peppers are a rich source of spicy-hot capsaicin.

They are also very high in antioxidant carotenoids, which are linked to numerous health benefits.

Here are the main bioactive plant compounds in chili peppers (3Trusted Source, 4, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source,8, 9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source):

Capsanthin. The main carotenoid in red chili peppers — up to 50% of the total carotenoid content — capsanthin is responsible for their red color. Its powerful antioxidant properties may fight cancer.
Violaxanthin. The major carotenoid antioxidant in yellow chili peppers, violaxanthin accounts for 37–68% of the total carotenoid content.
Lutein. Most abundant in green (immature) chili peppers, lutein’s levels decrease with maturation. High consumption of lutein is linked to improved eye health.
Capsaicin. One of the most studied plant compounds in chili peppers, capsaicin is responsible for their pungent (hot) flavor and many of their health effects.
Sinapic acid. Also known as sinapinic acid, this antioxidant has a variety of potential health benefits.
Ferulic acid. Similarly to sinapic acid, ferulic acid is an antioxidant that may help protect against various chronic diseases.
The antioxidant content of mature (red) chili peppers is much higher than that of immature (green) peppers (3Trusted Source).

SUMMARY
Chili peppers are rich in antioxidant plant compounds that have been linked to various health benefits. Most notable is capsaicin, which is responsible for the pungent (hot) taste of chili peppers.
Health benefits of chili peppers
Despite their burning taste, chili peppers have long been considered a healthy spice.

Pain relief
Capsaicin, the main bioactive plant compound in chili peppers, has some unique properties.

It binds with pain receptors, which are nerve endings that sense pain. This induces a burning sensation but does not cause any real burning injuries.

Even so, high consumption of chili peppers (or capsaicin) may desensitize your pain receptors over time, reducing your ability to sense the burning flavor of chili.

It also makes these pain receptors insensitive to other forms of pain, such as heartburn caused by acid reflux.

One study found that when 2.5 grams of red chili peppers were given daily to people with heartburn, the pain worsened at the beginning of the 5-week treatment but improved over time (11Trusted Source).

This is supported by another small, 6-week study showing that 3 grams of chili each day improved heartburn in people with acid reflux (12).

The desensitization effect does not seem to be permanent, and one study noted that it was reversed 1–3 days after capsaicin consumption stopped (13Trusted Source).

Weight loss
Obesity is a serious health condition that increases your risk of many chronic illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Some evidence suggests that capsaicin can promote weight loss by reducing appetite and increasing fat burning (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).

In fact, studies show that 10 grams of red chili pepper can significantly increase fat burning in both men and women (16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source, 21Trusted Source).

Capsaicin may also reduce calorie intake. A study in 24 people who consume chili regularly discovered that taking capsaicin before a meal led to reduced calorie intake (22Trusted Source).

Another study observed a significant reduction in appetite and calorie intake only in those who did not regularly consume chili (23Trusted Source).

Not all studies have found chili peppers to be effective. Other studies saw no significant effects on calorie intake or fat burning (24Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source, 26Trusted Source).

Despite the mixed evidence, it appears that regular consumption of red chili peppers or capsaicin supplements may aid weight loss when combined with other healthy lifestyle strategies (14Trusted Source).

However, chili peppers are probably not very effective on their own. Additionally, tolerance to the effects of capsaicin may develop over time, limiting its effectiveness (15Trusted Source).

SUMMARY
Chili peppers are associated with several health benefits. They may promote weight loss when combined with other healthy lifestyle strategies and may help relieve pain caused by acid reflux.

Potential downsides
Chili peppers may have adverse effects in some individuals, and many people do not like its burning sensation.

Burning sensation
Chili peppers are well known for their hot, burning flavor.

The substance responsible is capsaicin, which binds to pain receptors and causes an intense burning sensation.

For this reason, the compound oleoresin capsicum extracted from chili peppers is the main ingredient in pepper sprays (27Trusted Source).

In high amounts, it causes severe pain, inflammation, swelling, and redness (28Trusted Source).

Over time, regular exposure to capsaicin may cause certain pain neurons to become insensitive to further pain.

Stomach pain and diarrhea
Eating chili can cause intestinal distress in some people.

The symptoms may include abdominal pain, a burning sensation in your gut, cramps, and painful diarrhea.

This is more common in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Chili can temporarily worsen symptoms in those who are not used to eating it regularly (29Trusted Source, 30Trusted Source, 31Trusted Source).

For this reason, people with IBS may want to limit their consumption of chili and other spicy foods.

Cancer risk
Cancer is a serious disease characterized by abnormal cell growth.

Evidence on the effects of chili on cancer is mixed.

Test-tube and animal studies indicate that capsaicin, a plant compound in chili peppers, may either increase or decrease your risk of cancer (32Trusted Source).

Observational studies in humans link chili pepper consumption to an increased risk of cancer, especially of the gallbladder and stomach (33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source).

Additionally, red chili powder has been identified as a risk factor for mouth and throat cancer in India (35Trusted Source).

Keep in mind that observational studies cannot prove that chili peppers cause cancer, only that people who ate high amounts of chili peppers were more likely to get it.

Further studies are needed to determine whether heavy chili intake or capsaicin supplements are safe in the long term.

SUMMARY
Chili peppers are not good for everyone. They trigger a burning sensation and may cause stomach pain and diarrhea in some individuals. Some studies associate chili consumption with increased cancer risk.

The bottom line
Chili peppers are a popular spice in many parts of the world and well known for their hot, pungent flavor.

They are rich in vitamins, minerals, and various unique plant compounds.

These include capsaicin, the substance that causes your mouth to burn. Capsaicin is linked to several health benefits, as well as adverse effects.

On one hand, it may help promote weight loss and relieve pain when consumed regularly.

On the other hand, it causes a burning sensation, which is unpleasant for many people, especially those not used to eating chili peppers. It’s also linked to digestive upset.

It’s important to pay attention to your own tolerance levels when eating chili peppers. Using them as a spice may be healthy, but those who experience digestive distress should avoid them.