May improve blood sugar control
Top 6 in Top 7 Health Benefits of Paprika
Capsaicin in paprika may be useful in controlling diabetes. That's because capsaicin may affect genes involved in controlling blood sugar levels and hinder the body's natural sugar-degrading enzymes. It could raise insulin sensitivity as well.
A daily 5-mg dosage of capsaicin effectively reduced post-meal blood sugar levels in a 4-week trial of 42 diabetic pregnant women as compared to a placebo. Another four-week trial involving 36 people discovered that eating foods high in capsaicin significantly reduced blood insulin levels after meals as compared to eating foods low in capsaicin. Better blood sugar management is often associated with lower insulin levels.
