If you can't stand the heat... When I was little, the kids in my neighborhood used to have contests to see who could eat the most hot peppers. With our mouths blazing and our eyes watering, we would egg each other on until one of us gave up and made a mad dash for the milk, sending the rest of us into fits of laughter. Hot peppers were the source of many a childhood good laugh, but at the time, I didn't realize just how good they were for you. Hot peppers, also known as cayenne peppers, are renowned for their anti-inflammatory capabilities. Their active ingredient, capsaicin, is valued by both scientists and herbalists and has a long list of medicinal purposes: The hot spice is used medicinally for such disorders as osteoarthritis, diabetic neuropathy, cluster headaches, dyspepsia, and psoriasis. It has been used for toothaches, nasal and sinus congestion, and as a liniment for sprains. It may also improve cardiovascular health by lowering blood cholesterol and triglycerides and by increasing the body's ability to prevent blood clots. Some even see it as a natural weight loss aid because it raises the body's temperature and increases oxygen consumption, thereby consuming calories. In the West Indies, cayenne pepper pods are soaked in hot water, then mixed with sugar and the juice of sour oranges to make a drink that is used to combat fever. Cayenne pepper is high in vitamins A and C. In fact, it actually has more vitamin C than oranges. Although the spice can be an inspiring addition to many dishes, it's not for everyone. But for those of you who can take the heat, here's a tip: Water heightens the burning sensation
Prostatitis relief
Q: My urologist says I have prostatitis. Any ideas about which natural prostate supplements I can take? JVW: There are many natural You probably already know about saw palmetto and the benefits of fish oil high in DHA and EPA for the prostate. Here are other supplements (with the recommended daily quantities in parentheses) to try that can also be part of a treatment program for chronic prostatitis: lycopene (20-40 mg); selenium (300-400 mcg); folate (800-1,200 mcg); zinc (30-50 mg) balanced by copper (2-4 mg); vitamin A (10,000 IU); vitamin C (2,000-3,000 mg); indole-3-carbinol (500-1,000 mg); vitamin D (800-1,200 IU); and vitamin B12 (500-1,000 mcg). And that's not all. Other helpful nutritional aids include: di-indolymethane (120-240 mg); vitamin E (800 IU); quercitin (500-1,000 mg); vitamin B6 (50-100 mg); coenzyme Q10 (30-60 mg); green-tea concentrate (minimum 80 percent polyphenols, 1,000-2,000 mg); inositol hexaphosphate (I 6 P, 1,000 mg); and mixed carotenoids (15,000-25,000 IU). And in addition to treating prostatitis, these nutrients also help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, especially for those with additional known risk factors. For more information on treating prostatitis, check out the article "Lifting the curse of chronic prostatitis" in the April 2006 issue of Nutrition & Healing.
What is...prostatitis?
Inflammation of the prostate gland is known as prostatitis. Symptoms vary from the acute to mild with occasional flare-ups, and can include an increased urge to urinate; pain or burning when urinating, ejaculating or defecating; fever and chills; lower back pain; blood in the urine or semen; or pain in the abdomen, testicle, or the region between the scrotum and the anus. The condition is thought to be caused by microorganisms and recurrence is common.
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