| You can never know too much about chiles! They | | | | Asia, India and Africa and not so much in Europe, |
| are an amazing fruit that promises to make you | | | | thus supporting the Bering strait theorythat |
| healthier when you eat them regularly. All chiles | | | | they were taken back into Asia by early settlers |
| have the unique ability to produce the healthful, | | | | in the Americas. The challenge becomeshow to |
| cancer curing capsaicin. By just knowing that | | | | eat chiles regularly? By placing them on the table |
| eating chiles 24 out of 30 days according to a | | | | in small cellars or shaker bottles makes them |
| Singapore study reported by Jin Y. Kang, MD of | | | | easily available for adding to any food. Other |
| the National University of Singapore, you will be | | | | thoughts are chile tea, chile vinegar or oilall made |
| healthier and freer of disease. He was reporting | | | | by heating a substance and soaking chiles in it. |
| on a study on ulcer cures from eating chiles. He | | | | Chiles, red or green can be added to salads, |
| speculated that the reason they work as a cure | | | | soups, stews, on meats and vegetables and even |
| is that probably they stimulate blood flow and | | | | added to desserts. Chocolate and chile are a |
| nourish the gastric mucosal membrane. He went | | | | marvelous marriage. |
| on to report that "ulcer-free patients ate 2.6 | | | | Following is a favorite chocolate chile dessert |
| times more chile than those with ulcers. The | | | | SPICY HOT CHOCOLATE MOUSSE |
| ulcer-free patients also ate chile more often24 | | | | Yield: 4 servings |
| times per month, compared with 8 times per | | | | ½ cup sugar, divided 4 ounces |
| month for those with ulcers." Chiles reduce pain in | | | | high-quality bittersweet baking chocolate |
| sore joints caused by arthritis. Also,the destruction | | | | 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small bits |
| of cartilage that comes as a result of arthritis and | | | | 1 tablespoon red-hot schnapps, or to taste |
| aging is stopped as well as the fluid in the joints is | | | | 3 egg whites |
| retained. Physiologically, capsaicin creams and | | | | 1. In a liquid measuring cup, combine |
| ointments penetrate to the arthritic joints and | | | | ¼ cup water and ¼ |
| stop the destruction of synovial fluid. The | | | | cup of the sugar. Microwave for 1 minute on full |
| capsaicin in chiles when applied topically also | | | | power to dissolve the sugar, or, on a conventional |
| controls the pain associated with herpes, shingles | | | | range, bring to a boil in a small saucepan and cook |
| and the neuralgia and pain from amputation | | | | until dissolved. Set aside. |
| trauma. Chiles effect on the blood has long been | | | | 2. In a heavy saucepan, or a double boiler over |
| known. For example in Thailand, they have a | | | | medium-low heat, combine chocolate and butter, |
| much lower incidence of blood clotting disease. | | | | whisking continuously until melted and of a |
| Research definitely indicates that upon searching | | | | creamy texture. Whisk or mix in the schnapps |
| the medical records of countries where spicy | | | | and 2 tablespoons of the sugar mixture. Taste |
| foods are regularly consumed, there is much less | | | | and add the remaining sugar mixture, if desired. |
| incidence. In sum, chiles reduce hypertension, | | | | Set aside for later use. |
| increase the pulse and help stem off strokes and | | | | 3. Place the egg whites in a mixing bowl. Using |
| the health reducing effects of high blood pressure. | | | | clean beaters for the electric mixer, beat until |
| Chiles were discovered in the new world. They | | | | foamy. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup |
| are a product that evolved in the Americas as did | | | | sugar evenly over the top. Beat on high speed to |
| all night shadesthe botanical family to which | | | | create a soft meringue. Fold the meringue into the |
| chiles belong. So it becomes quite fascinating to | | | | chocolate mixture. Serve warm or chilled in footed |
| learn how chiles have become such a staple in | | | | compotes or wineglasses. |