The Health Benefits of Hot Peppers That Will Surprise You!

Do you want to eat well without sacrificing flavor? Hot peppers are not only tasty, but they also have surprising health benefits! Before Columbus brought them to Europe, Central and South America had been using hot peppers for centuries. The indigenous people of this region used hot pepper for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Today's research is revealing even more benefits.

Hot peppers contain a unique nutrient that can benefit your health. Capsaicin is the name given to this nutrient. It gives hot peppers and hot sauce their heat. Capsaicin has some unexpected health benefits that researchers are still investigating.

Continue reading to learn how hot peppers and hot sauce can benefit your diet and your health.

CAN THE CAPSAICIN IN HOT PEPPERS HELP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER?

Capsaicin, according to researchers at Wayne State University School of Medicine, inhibits the growth of human breast and leukemia cancer cells. In fact, the study found that capsaicin aids in the death of cancer cells.

But don't worry, capsaicin does not kill all of your body's cells. These effects were only observed in cancer cells.

Capsaicin has the potential to treat cancers other than leukemia and breast cancer. According to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, capsaicin causes tumor cells to commit suicide. Capsaicin interacts with neural receptors, triggering a series of chemical reactions. Apoptosis, or a cell's way of shutting down, occurs in tumor cells as a result.

PREVENT DIABETES AND IMPROVE HEART HEALTH

Could hot peppers do more for your health than just prevent cancer? Yes, according to research published by the Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

According to the study, capsaicin improves heart health and aids in the prevention of diabetes.

Excess weight gain causes inflammation, which contributes to type II diabetes and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can lead to complications like heart disease. However, adipokines help to reduce inflammation. Capsaicin stimulates adipokines. Keep capsaicin in your diet to help your body protect itself from disease.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO LOSE WEIGHT WITH HOT PEPPERS?

According to research published in the British Journal of Nutrition, capsaicin may make you feel less hungry.

Capsaicin may help people eat fewer calories from various sources, according to research. Capsaicin reduced the amount of fat and protein consumed in one study involving Japanese women. Another study with Caucasian men found that capsaicin reduced carbohydrate consumption.

At the same time, capsaicin boosts your metabolism and causes you to burn more calories. Unfortunately, this results in a negligible amount of calories burned, making it less compelling than capsaicin's appetite suppressant effect.

Also, hot peppers and hot sauce are low-calorie ways to add flavor to your food. Hot sauce contains no calories and provides more flavor than most other condiments.

CAN PEPPERS HELP TO REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE?

High blood pressure increases your chances of having a heart attack, having heart failure, or dying suddenly.

High blood pressure is caused by a high sodium diet, a lack of exercise, and genetics. However, it appears that hot peppers may be able to assist.

According to the British Cardiovascular Society, capsaicin lowers blood pressure. These advantages are greatest for people who are predisposed to hypertension.

According to the researchers, this is due to capsaicin's beneficial effect on the kidney. In other words, hot peppers cause the kidneys to excrete more sodium from the body.

This is not to say that eating hot peppers will eliminate excess sodium from your diet. Hot peppers, on the other hand, may help prevent an unhealthy buildup of sodium.

GET THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF HOT PEPPERS NOW!

Hot peppers have been around for a long time. Capsaicin has been shown by researchers to improve heart health, prevent diabetes, and prevent cancer. Hot peppers can actually lower your blood pressure and make you feel less hungry.

There has never been a simpler way to spice up your food than with hot peppers. The best news is that hot sauce has these advantages because capsaicin provides the heat in hot sauce. So, crack open a bottle of hot sauce and enjoy!

Continue reading →

Okra: The Health Benefits You Didn't Know About!

Okra, also known as "lady's finger," is a flowering plant with edible seed pods. It thrives in warm climates and is commonly grown in Africa and South Asia.Though technically a fruit, okra is frequently used in cooking as a vegetable. Okra, for example, may be familiar to you as an ingredient in gumbo. Okra, while not a household name in healthy foods, has a lot of nutritional value.

Health Advantages

Okra is low in calories but high in nutrients. Okra contains vitamin C, which aids in immune function. Okra is also high in vitamin K, which aids in blood clotting.

Okra also has the following health benefits:

Combat Cancer

Antioxidants are natural compounds that assist your body in combating molecules known as free radicals, which can cause cell damage. Free radicals are best known for their ability to cause oxidation damage, which can eventually lead to cancer.

Okra contains polyphenol antioxidants, which include vitamins A and C. It also contains lectin, a protein that may inhibit cancer cell growth in humans. Concentrated okra compounds inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells by up to 63 percent in studies. More research is needed to establish the cancer-fighting properties of okra.

Encourage Heart and Brain Health

Polyphenols lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke by preventing blood clots and reducing free radical damage. Okra's antioxidants may also benefit your brain by reducing inflammation.

Mucilage, a thick, gel-like substance found in okra, can bind to cholesterol during digestion and transport it out of the body. An eight-week study on mice found that when they were fed a high-fat diet containing okra powder, their blood cholesterol levels dropped.

Blood Sugar Control

Several studies have found that okra can help control blood sugar levels. Researchers believe okra can help prevent sugar absorption during digestion.

In one study, rats given purified okra and liquid sugar had fewer blood sugar spikes than rats given a placebo. More research is needed to confirm that okra helps humans control their blood sugar levels.

Prenatal Care

One cup of okra contains 15% of the daily value of folate, an important nutrient for pregnant women. Folate reduces the risk of neural tube defects, which can affect the developing brain and spine.

Continue reading →

Top 5 Health Benefits of Alugbati

Alugbati is rapidly gaining popularity worldwide. Also known as Malabar spinach or basella, this leafy green vegetable packs a hefty nutritional punch. With just 19 calories per serving, it fills you up quickly without adding inches to your waist.

It's quite similar to spinach, offering a mix of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium and antioxidants. Depending on your preferences, you can add it to salads, smoothies, vegetable dishes, soups and other homemade meals. 

Continue reading →

Bakit Nahihiya ang Makahiya Plants or Sensitive Plant?

Ang sensitive plants or makahiya, na ang scientific name ay mimosa pudica, ay tinatawag ding mapagpakumbabang halaman, halaman na makahiya, o touch-me-not.

Ang ilang mga tao ay nagtanim ng makahiya plants at treat them na isang houseplant dahil sa kagiliw-giliw na pag-uugali. Kapag hinawakan mo ang mga dahon ng makahiya plants, naglalabas ito ng tubig mula sa mga dahon at tangkay nito. Nang mag-agos ang tubig sa base ng halaman, ang mga dahon ay mag wilt at ang mga tangkay ay nalugmok. Ito ang sanhi ng hitsura ng halaman na parang nalanta! Tingnan natin sa video ang ibang pang mga katangi-an ng makahiya plants, o sensitive plants. Tara na..

Continue reading →

Eggplant Farming Is Profitable

Eggplant Farming

Variety: CASINO F1, Morina F1 or Banate King

• A popular high-yielding hybrid variety with excellent shelf life, suitable for all seasons.
• The fruits are firm and have a very good shipping quality, with a shelf life of more than 5 days.
• The shape is straight and cylindrical, dark glossy purple in color with a purplish green calyx.
• The first harvest starts 58 DAT.
• The best variety for the Philippine farmer.

Eggplant

Land Preparation

Prepare the land by plowing and harrowing twice. Mix decomposed animal manure or compost at 1.0 kg/linear meter to improve soil structure and condition. Incorporate 300-400 kg complete fertilizer as basal. Make furrows 1.5 meters apart. Application of lime one month before transplanting is recommended at a rate of 3-5 tons/ha if soil pH is below 5.6..
Another option to furrow planting is planting eggplant in beds. It is usually 0.7 m wide and 20.0 cm high above the ground. Holes are made 0.75 m apart. Beds are covered with plastic mulch to minimize erosion especially during the rainy season and to control the growth of weeds.

Seedling Production

It is recommended to use seedling trays in growing of seedlings. This facilitates easy maintenance of the seedlings and efficient transplanting without disturbing the root system. Seedling trays should be filled with a good sowing medium such as peat moss, commercial potting soil or a mixture of sand, garden soil and coir dust (1:1:2).

Sowing

1. One hectare requires 150 to 200 grams of seeds.
2. Sow the seeds directly into the tray and cover lightly with soil. The seeds germinate 7-10 days after sowing.

Seedling Fertilization

The following is the recommended fertilization schedule for seedling growing.

DAS	Application	Fertilizer and Fungicide
0, 7, 14, 21, 28	Drenching	CaNO3 or Crop Giant (19-19-19) or Peters (30-10-10) at 40g/16 L Fungicide (a.i. propamocarb hydrochloride at 40ml/ 16 L

1. It is recommended to alternately use CaNO3 (calcium nitrate), Crop Giant and Peters because the last two fertilizers also contains micronutrients to support seedling growth.
2. Seedlings should be hardened 5-7 days before transplanting by decreasing the amount of water and exposing them to direct sunlight. This acclimatizes and prepares the plant to withstand harsh condition in the field.
3. Seedlings will be ready for transplanting four to five weeks after sowing.

Transplanting

1. Irrigate the field before transplanting. Transplant the seedlings at 0.75 m between hills by 1.5 meter between furrows. From the seedling tray, carefully remove the seedlings with the soil and the roots intact to facilitate crop recovery and minimize transplanting shock. It is recommended to do the transplanting in the afternoon.
2. When transplanting in beds, distribute each seedling into the prepared hills and cover with soil.

Irrigation and Drainage

If rainfall is insufficient, irrigation starts immediately after transplanting and is repeated as often as needed, usually with an interval of 5-7 days during the dry months. The soil must be moist at all times but water lagging must be avoided. Allow excess water to drain from the field immediately.

Fertilization

The following is the recommended fertilization schedule.

Days after Transplanting	Method of Application	Fertilizer Material	Amount
0, 3, 5	Drench	Dissolved CaNO3 or 18-46-0	7.5 g/ 1 L water
7	Side-dress	Complete	15.0g/ hill
21	Side-dress	Urea	15.0 g/ hill
35 days and succeeding appl'n at 2-3 weeks interval	Side-dress	Equal ratio of Urea and 0-0-60 or Complete	20.0 g/ hill

Note: 1 tbsp is approximately 10.0 grams
Reduce fertilizer application when plants are soon to be terminated.

Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling

Harvest the fruits once they have reached sufficient size for marketing (usually 2-3 weeks after flowering). Harvesting is done carefully by hand or using a sharp knife, with the calyx attached to the fruit. This could be done once or twice a week, preferably early in the morning.

Sort the fruits according to market standards. Pack the fruits neatly in a polyethylene bag before transporting to the market.

Insects & Pest Control

Check this lnk: http://www.eastwestseed.com/philippines/

Continue reading →

Red Hot Pepper Is A Money Maker

This is a repost article from agrizaccess blog. This article explain how the red hot pepper is very profitable.

One place where the variety is proving to be highly profitable at this time is the demo farm put up by Butil Farm Party List Cong. Agapito Guanlao in Brgy. Calulut, San Fernando City in Pampanga.

A half hectare portion of the 4.5-hectare demo farm was planted to Red Hot last June 15, according to Fidel David who is managing the demo farm. By the third week of August, the first harvest was made and since then harvesting has been going on every other day.

At first, harvest was just small and the price then was only P25 per kilo. It did not take long for the harvest to increase and so did the price. The price continually increased to P50, P100 and then to P170 per kilo during our visit last November 9.

For a number of days, the price has been P170 per kilo and the volume of harvest has been steady at 220 kilos every other day, according to David. That means about P37,000 gross sales every other day.

What’s good about the hot pepper is that it has a long productive life. According to David, if they continue to take care of the plants, fertilizing them and irrigating them as needed, they could remain productive for the next two years.

Marketing the harvest is not a big problem, according to David. There are regular traders who buy their harvest. The project is also proving to be creating employment to people from the community. Ten pickers are employed every other day, working for five hours and getting paid P250 for their labor.

Cong. Guanlao thought of putting up the demo farm so that farmers in the community, if not the whole province and beyond, could pick up ideas that they could adopt in their own farms. To manage the farm, Fidel David of the Bangon San Matias Multipurpose Cooperative of Sta. Rita town was hired for the job.

David is an engineer who used to work in the Middle East but who gave up his overseas job to go into farming. He has become a successful farmer, earning probably more from farming than from his job in Saudi Arabia. He has accepted the job because he wanted to help other farmers realize that there is money in farming if they adopt the improved practices.

Actually, the 4.5 hectares that they rented for P25,000 a year was idle and unproductive for many years. It was filled with tall growth of talahib which they had to bulldoze to clear the place. They also had to apply a lot of manure to improve the fertility of the soil.

Aside from Red Hot, they also planted 5,000 square meters to Django, a “pangsigang” variety. The plants were also productive but the highest price they got has been P60 per kilo. And then the price went down to as low as P10 per kilo. Fidel plans to phase out the Django and plant other high-value crops like watermelon and honeydew melon.

There are lesser plantings of papaya, patola, squash and others. The demo farm wants to showcase various crops that the local farmers could grow in their own farms.

Actually, the demo farm has now become a training center. During our visit, a group of farmers from Sta. Ana, Pampanga, were visiting to observe the improved practices. What the demo farm is also showing is the proper way of producing seedlings. This is important so that farmers can produce their own seedlings of improved varieties.

As its contribution to the project, the Department of Agriculture provided a greenhouse where they germinate vegetable seedlings. This is where the trainees learn to grow their own seedlings.

Earlier, David said they had a trial planting of Formosa and Ilocos Gold watermelon on 3,000 square meters. From that space, they were able to harvest seven tons.

The Red Hot variety of hot pepper is proving to be a money maker for many farmers in the Philippines.

Continue reading →

How To Grow Red Hot Pepper

How To Grow Red Hot Pepper

RED HOT F1 Variety

• Red Hot Hybrid Hot Pepper is a very vigorous plant that gives superior yield and good quality fruits.
• It has good branching, a medium-sized bush that’s about 70-80cm tall.
• Its fruit point upwards and are easy to pick. Its uniform fruits commands premium prices.
• Fruit color is green/dark green and becomes glossy red when mature.
• Good pungency, ideal for “fresh” market and “processing”.
• Early maturing, harvestable at 70-80 days after transplanting.
• This variety won the “Best Innovation Award” in Thailand due to its superior performance in yield and field adaptation.

Land Preparation

• Prepare the land thoroughly by plowing and harrowing. Apply lime 1 month before panting if soil pH is below 5.6 at the rate of 3-5 tons per hectare.
• Prepare 1.0m wide bed spaced 0.5m in between at 30cm high
• Mix decomposed animal manure or compost at rate of 1.0kg/linear meter bed
• Apply basal fertilizer 2 bags 46-0-0, 2.5 bags 18-46-0, and 2.75 bags 0-0-60 per hectar
• Cover with plastic mulch right after the fertilizer is applied; use bamboo staple sticks to fix the edges.
• Make holes just before transplanting; 2 rows at around 50cm apart at 45cm between hills.

Seedling Production

• Fill seedling trays with sowing medium. Sowing medium can either be peat moss or potting mix prepared from garden soil, compost, washed coconut coir, rice hull and or sand. Be sure to have good water holding capacity and good drainage.
• Sow one seed per cell in seedling trays. One hectare needs 200g seeds.
• Cover seedlings with insect proof net or place inside screen house
• Water seedlings every morning or as needed (not too wet, not too dry) and use fine sprinkler
• Drench with foliar fertilizer when two true leaves appear.
• To prevent damping-off drench with propamocarb hydrochloride (Previcur-N)
• Harden seedlings 4-5days prior to transplanting by decreasing the amount of water and gradually exposing them to direct sunlight.

Transplanting

• Under good condition, four weeks-old seedling with 4-5 true leaves is ready for transplanting. Transplant late in the afternoon
• Irrigate immediately to establish good root-soil contact
• If there is intense heat, fill the hole with soil up to the level of plastic mulch

Irrigation

• Red Hot pepper is less tolerant to drought. Irrigate weekly during dry season. Closer interval when evaporation is high or when crop is flowering and/or setting fruit.
• Furrow or Drip irrigation is recommended. If overhead irrigation is used, avoid late afternoon or evening irrigation.
• On rainy season, drain fields quickly after heavy rain

Fertilization

Two weeks after transplanting
1.5 bag 46-0-0 or 3.25 bags 21-0-0 per hectare. Apply 10 grams in small hole near the base and cover with soil.

Four weeks after transplanting
Mix 0.5 bag 46-0-0, 2 bags 18-46-0, 2.5 bags 0-0-60 and apply 10 grams per hill. Dibble a hole 10 cm from the base of the plant, place the fertilizer mix and cover with soil.

Six weeks after transplanting
apply 2 bags 46-0-0 or 4.5 bags 21-0-0 whatever fertilizer is available. Place in a hole 10cm from the base and cover with soil

    Repeat application if in 2 weeks interval if plants are still vigorous and healthy to prolong harvest period
    Apply foliar fertilizer to boast plant and further increase yield.

Trellising & Weeding

• Construct trellis using bamboo poles or stake at 2.5 meters apart on both sides of the bed.
• Attach G.I. wire to bamboo post and tie sagging stems and branches on G.I. wire using twine or blue string.
• Do hand weeding when needed. At vegetative stage canals between bed can be sprayed with herbicide.

Harvesting

Harvest in the morning. Depending on the market requirements, harvest green or breaker stage at 3-4 days interval.

Continue reading →

How to Grow String Bean

When planting string beans you can choose a pole type of bean or a bush type of bean. If you need to save garden space, you should select pole beans, as they grow upward instead of out as the bush bean does. According to Portland Nursery, string beans are not fond of being transplanted, so you should plant your string beans directly into the ground from seed. However, if you choose to start the plants indoors, sow the seeds directly into a peat pellet. This will enable you to place the entire seedling into the ground without disturbing the root ball. Whether you are planting seedlings or seeds, the planting instructions are basically the same.

Here is the steps you need to follow in planting your string beans:

• Plant your beans when there is no longer a danger of a frost in your gardening zone.
• Dig a row for your string beans. If planting seeds, the rows should be 2 inches deep. If planting seedlings in peat pellets, the rows should be deep enough for the entire peat pellet to set down in. If more than one row, there should be 18 to 24 inches between rows.
• Place your string bean seeds, or peat pellets, down into the row and completely cover with soil. Seeds and pellets should be planted 4 inches apart. Seeds should be covered with 1 to 2 inches of soil, and the peat pellets should be covered along with an inch of soil up the stem.
• Thoroughly water the soil where the seeds or seedlings were planted.
• Pound a 6-foot plant stake, 12 inches deep into the ground, next to each plant if your string beans are of a pole variety. This is the type of string bean that will grow as a vine and attach itself to the pole and grow upward. If you have planted the bush variety of string beans, no staking is necessary.

Tips and Warnings

You must set up your support, or poles, for pole beans at planting time. If you try to do it after the plants have taken root you can damage the root system.

Source of this article: How to Plant String Bean Plants

Continue reading →