Can Red Peppers Be Eaten Raw? Learn These Facts First for Peace of Mind

Red peppers can be eaten raw, whether dipped in sauce or served cold dressed. Red peppers are rich in vitamins, and eating them raw reduces the loss of vitamin C, making it an excellent choice.

1. How to choose red peppers?

1. There is a variety called xianjiao (thread pepper), which is not spicy in taste, has a longer shape, and a wrinkled skin; dabanjiao (large flat pepper), which is relatively large in shape and not very spicy; zidantoujiao (bullet-head pepper), which tastes quite spicy and, compared with pointed peppers, is wider and shorter in shape but has a fairly round top; lantern pepper, which is spicy in taste, has a shape resembling a heart, and is very short in length, generally used in hot pot restaurants; in addition, there are some common red chili peppers, facing heaven peppers (chaotianjiao), chili king (lajiaowang), and other varieties.

2. Look at the pepper stem: for the same variety, generally the ones with a straighter stem are not spicy, while those with a more curved stem are generally spicier.

3. You can look at the surface: peppers that taste spicier have a more curved surface and a more wrinkled skin, while those with no wrinkles on the surface and a smoother skin will not be very spicy.

4. Look at the flesh: thicker flesh means not spicy; conversely, that means a spicier taste.

5. You can smell the pepper stem: if you cannot smell any spiciness, then naturally it is not very spicy; conversely, if you can smell the spiciness, it indicates that this pepper still tastes on the spicy side.

2. Nutritional value

1. Fever reduction and pain relief: chili peppers are pungent and warm, and can lower body temperature through sweating and relieve muscle pain, thus having a strong fever-reducing and pain-relieving effect.

2. Cancer prevention: capsaicin, the active component of chili peppers, is an antioxidant substance that can block the metabolism of related cells, thereby halting the cancerous transformation of cell tissues and lowering the incidence of cancer cells.

3. Increasing appetite and aiding digestion: the strong spicy aroma of chili peppers can stimulate the secretion of saliva and gastric juice, increase appetite, promote intestinal peristalsis, and help digestion.

4. Lowering fat and losing weight: the capsaicin contained in chili peppers can promote fat metabolism, prevent fat accumulation in the body, and is beneficial for lowering fat, losing weight, and preventing disease.

5. However, consuming too much capsaicin will strongly irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, causing stomach pain, diarrhea, and a burning, stinging pain in the anus, inducing gastrointestinal diseases, and triggering bleeding from hemorrhoids.

6. Beauty and health benefits: red chili peppers contain a special substance that promotes hormone secretion and has a very good beauty and health benefit for the skin.

7. Protecting the kidneys: red chili peppers contain a capsaicin substance that can break down the body's waste and can help protect the kidneys.