5. Cayenne pepper
The main ingredient that gives cayenne pepper its heat is called capsaicin. “There is some evidence that this compound can affect blood pressure and improve blood flow,” says Ginger Hultin, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and owner of ChampagneNutrition, based in Seattle.
Other types of peppers that contain capsaicin include green and red chilies, jalapeño peppers, and tabasco peppers. She suggests stirring cayenne into eggs, sauces, and salad dressings and using it to flavor seafood and chicken. “You can even use it to spice up treats like brownies, muffins, cookies, and cakes,” she says.
Still, capsaicin can thin your blood, so you shouldn’t include it in your diet if you are taking blood-thinning medications or supplements.
