Chili Pepper

Hot chili pepper is the best mucokinetic food among all hot spicy foods. According to Dr. Ziment, since antiquity, the flavored foods for treating pulmonary and respiratory diseases have been mustard, garlic and hot chili peppers. The active agents in these foods may work by several mechanisms. However, Dr. Ziment believes that they generally activate a flash food of fluids in air passages that thin out mucus, so that it flows more easily.

As the hot stuff hits the mouth, throat and stomach, it touches nerve receptors that send messages to the brain, which in turn, stimulate the vagus nerve controlling secretion-producing glands that line the airways. The glands instantly release waves of fluids that can make the says water and the nose run. Dr. Ziment says that common pharmacological traits of all hot, pungent foods that break up congestion, flushing out sinuses and washing away irritants. He prescribes hot foods for any condition in which secretions in the airways are thicker than normal, including sinusitis, a lump with congestion, asthma, hay fever, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Dr. Ziment also advices those who already suffer from chronic bronchitis and emphysema to eat hot food regularly, at least three times a week. He says that his patients who do so breath more eaisly and require less treatment. Further, in surveys, he finds that those who eat more hot spicy cuisine are less likely to develop chronic bronchitis and emphysema, even if they smoke.

Dr. Ziment says, "A lot of drugs for colds and coughs and bronchitis do exactly what chili peppers do, but I believe more in peppers. Peppers don't cause any side effects. I am convinced that 90 percent of all people can tolerate hot food and get a benefit".