Nutrition Information on Chipotle Peppers

The use of chipotle peppers are popular for many culinary and restaurant dishes. By definition, chipotle peppers are smoked jalapeno chili peppers. Their distinctive smoked flavor and spicy taste adds a unique kick to any recipe.
Chipotle peppers add great flavor to any dish, and they also add a hefty nutritional punch. The peppers are a good source of vitamins and contain capsaicin, a compound found to have several health and medical benefits.

Capsaicin

Capsaicin in a chemical that is present in almost all of the fruits of the capsicum genus of plants (which includes all types of peppers). It is the chemical that causes the burning sensation in your mouth when you bite into a chili. The hotter the chili pepper the more capsaicin it contains.
Capsaicin has been used for its medicinal qualities for centuries by both Native American and Mexican cultures. These cultures mostly used the substance as a circulatory stimulant and pain reliever. Research has shown that capsaicin might hold promise for a wider variety of ailments such as arthritis, headaches, allergies, poor digestion, hemorrhoids and more.

Fighting Inflammation

One of the major actions capsaicin performs in the body is to fight inflammation. It does this by inhibiting substance P, a naturally occurring signal molecule in the body. Substance P is associated with a majority of the body's inflammatory processes. When capsaicin inhibits substance P, it blocks the inflammatory cascade that causes a majority of our most common illnesses, such as arthritis, allergies, diabetes and even cancer.

In the Blood

Chipotle and other chili peppers also have been shown to reduce blood cholesterol, triglyceride levels and platelet aggregation. Capsaicin and other chemicals in the pepper also seem to magnify the body's ability to dissolve fibrin, a key substance in the formation of blood clots.
Peppers also have been show to protect blood fats (cholesterol and triglycerides) from damage by free radicals. This is a very important action because free radical attack of blood fats is one of the first mechanisms that lead to the development of atherosclerosis.

Vitamin Powerhouse

Consuming peppers will give your overall immune system a boost. They are loaded with important vitamins and minerals, while having very few calories. Chili peppers contain approximately 10 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin C and fiber and around 5 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin A. They also contain some important minerals such as potassium and iron.

They're Versatile

The great thing about chipotle peppers is they are so versatile. Throw them in soups or stews, add them to a marinade, chop them up and them add to taco meat or chicken salad. Always keep in mind that a little goes a long way, and even with all of their health benefits, moderation is key when using chilies.
Overall, adding chipotle peppers to your diet is a great way to spice up both your meal and your health.

References

• Healthy Foods
• Nutrition Data