Enjoy the health benefits of hot peppers with homemade hot sauce

Since giving birth to three children, my body has had an insatiable appetite for spice, especially from habanero peppers. In fact, habanero peppers are the only peppers now that taste spicy to me. 

Recently, as I was chatting with a farmer who was concerned about my purchases of chocolate haberno peppers, I assured him, "Don't worry: I've never tasted anything that's been too spicy for me!"

Curious about my body's strong craving for intense heat and spice, I did some research and learned that, compared to jalapeño peppers, habanero peppers can have up to 100x more capsaicin, the healthy chemical in spicy peppers. Habanero peppers are also high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. 

Studies indicate that capsaicin may help:

• fight prostrate cancer 
• vascular and metabolic health
• soothe inflammation
• increase your longevity

Hot Sauce Recipe

If you enjoy and can safely have hot sauce, then consider the loose guidelines below for making your own. In the hot sauce appearing in the image above, I also included spinach.

Suggested Ingredients

• Yellow onions
• Garlic
• Tomatoes
• Habanerro peppers
• Other peppers
• Fruit
• Salt

Make

Staples of my hot sauce include sauteed onions, garlic, habanerro peppers, and salt. The rest of the ingredients depend on what's available in my kitchen. Possibilities include: other types of peppers (sweet or spicy), fruit, miso, Bragg's Amino Acids, rice vinegar, and fruit (like mangoes and pineapples). I also experiment with what I sautee, roast, or keep raw. The key is to experiment and be playful because you will then learn of so many possibilities that you will enjoy from what you already have in your kitchen.