published on 13/04/2024How to make pizza more digestible? With chili pepper!
With its characteristic aroma and spicy flavor, chili pepper is an ingredient that has always added liveliness and intensity to numerous dishes in Italian cuisine, including the famous pizza. But in addition to its unique taste, chili pepper can also offer surprising health benefits, including better digestion. If you've ever experienced that annoying feeling of heaviness after enjoying a pizza, you might find it interesting to know that adding chili pepper to the dough can help make the dish more digestible. But how does this trick work? Several studies have shown that chili pepper can positively influence gastrointestinal transit.
A study conducted on healthy volunteers highlighted that adding chili pepper to a standard meal slowed gastric emptying and accelerated complete intestinal transit. This means that food is digested more efficiently and quickly, reducing the risk of bloating or heaviness after eating.
But what is the secret behind this beneficial effect of chili pepper? It is believed to be due to the presence of capsaicin, the active ingredient responsible for the characteristic spiciness of chili pepper. Capsaicin acts by stimulating sensory receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, increasing the secretion of gastric juices, and improving intestinal motility.
So, if you are a pizza lover and want to enjoy this delicious dish without worrying about unpleasant feelings of bloating, you may want to consider adding chili pepper to the dough of your homemade pizza.
A tip of fresh 101 chopped chili added to the dough can work wonders to make your pizza not only tastier but also more digestible. Experiment with the amounts and find out which quantity of chili pepper best suits your tastes and tolerance to spiciness. So the next time you prepare your pizza at home, don't forget to give chili pepper a chance. In addition to adding a touch of liveliness to your dish, it could also make your culinary experience lighter and more comfortable. Enjoy your meal!
References for further reading:
Horowitz M, Wishart J, Maddox A, Russo A. The effect of chilli on gastrointestinal transit. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1992 Jan-Feb;7(1):52-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1992.tb00935.x. PMID: 1543869.
