Chili peppers, also known simply as chilies or hot
peppers, are fruits of plants from the genus Capsicum. They are widely used in
cooking to add heat, flavor, and color to dishes. The heat of chili peppers is
measured on the Scoville scale, which assigns a numerical value to the amount
of capsaicin, the compound responsible for the sensation of heat. Mild peppers
like bell peppers have a Scoville rating of 0, while extremely hot peppers like
the Carolina Reaper can exceed 2 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Chili
peppers are low in calories and rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly
vitamin C and vitamin A. They also contain antioxidants and capsaicin, which is
believed to have various health benefits, including pain relief, improved
metabolism, and cardiovascular health.
