Cayenne pepper, which comes from the Capsicum annuum plant, has been used traditionally for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.
Not only does cayenne pepper contain protective antioxidants, it may also help with digestion and keep your metabolism moving. Capsaicin, the chemical compound in cayenne that gives the pepper its characteristic heat, may also ease pain, clear up congestion, and protect against inflammation.
If you're pregnant, you might be wondering whether you can eat cayenne pepper or take it as a supplement. Read on to learn which uses of cayenne pepper are safe, how to add it to your diet, and some considerations beyond pregnancy.
Cayenne Pepper During Pregnancy
It’s generally safe to eat cayenne pepper, either whole or as a spice, in normal culinary amounts as part of a balanced diet during pregnancy.
But spicy foods containing cayenne may worsen the heartburn that can come along with pregnancy. So if you’re experiencing acid reflux symptoms, you may want to limit or avoid the hot spice.
Capsaicin also comes in the form of an oral supplement, but no studies have been done in humans to determine whether taking capsaicin can increase the chances of miscarriage, birth irregularities, or other pregnancy-related issues.
For this reason, it may be safest to avoid taking oral capsaicin supplements during pregnancy.
In fact, experts advise only topical use — rated as “likely safe” or “possibly safe” — of cayenne pepper when you’re pregnant. You might find capsaicin as a cream, a lotion, or a patch that you apply to your skin.
One recent study suggests that capsaicin is safe as a topical treatment applied on the abdomen to help ease nausea and pregnancy during pregnancy.
Of course, it’s always best to speak with your doctor before using any products containing capsaicin. They can advise you on what’s safe for your individual situation.
Uses of Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is a vegetable used in cuisines throughout the world. You can eat it fresh or use it for seasoning as a spice. Cayenne peppers contain vitamins A, B6, C, and K, though the spice doesn’t have quite as robust of a nutritional profile.
Casaicin, the compound that gives cayenne peppers this heat, is thought to have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties.
Plus, it may decrease your risk of stress or low mood, help prevent cancer, reduce the damaging effects of low-density (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol, and speed up digestion.
To get some of the nutritional benefits of cayenne pepper during your pregnancy, you can use fresh peppers as part of your meals. Consider slicing the peppers and adding them to stews, chilis, or stir-fries. Or you can sprinkle dried cayenne powder into your pasta sauce or soup for a kick.
Another use of cayenne pepper is in a nutritious smoothie with yogurt and mango. You can even add a dusting of cayenne to your dessert, since cayenne pairs well with chocolate.
Just be careful when handling hot peppers like cayenne, since the spice can get into your skin or even your eyes if you touch them by accident. This may result in pain, burning, and irritation that can last up to 24 hours. But don’t worry: Even though it hurts, this type of hot pepper burn doesn’t typically cause any actual skin damage.
The best method to keep your skin safe is to wear gloves when prepping foods involving cayenne pepper. If you choose not to wear gloves, you can wash your hands with dish soap and hot water, using a brush to scrub them clean.
Considerations Beyond Pregnancy
In addition to possible concerns about spicy foods worsening heartburn during pregnancy, it’s important to make sure you’re not allergic to cayenne pepper before consuming it. Although a capsaicin allergy is rare, you may experience an adverse reaction to cayenne pepper if you’re sensitive to certain proteins in the spice.
If you’re nearing delivery and planning on nursing your baby, also know that it’s still safe to eat spicy foods like cayenne pepper while breastfeeding. While anecdotal reports suggest spicy foods may cause irritability in breastfeeding babies, this isn’t actually the case.
The Takeaway
Experts generally consider it safe to eat cayenne pepper as part of a balanced diet during pregnancy, though it may worsen heartburn in some people due to its spiciness.
While topical capsaicin is likely safe to apply, you may want to avoid capsaicin supplements, since not enough research has been done on their safety during pregnancy.
Be sure to check with your doctor before adding cayenne pepper or capsaicin to your diet or routine; they can advise on what’s safe for your individual situation.
