Green chili is different from red chili in the sense of colour of course, and also spiciness. Compared to red chili or health benefits of bird’s eye chili, green chili is not as hot as the two, and therefore they are often deemed as “safe” for consumption by a wider scope of society, such as children and pregnant women.
But then how safe is green chili for pregnant women? Let’s reveal the benefits of green chili during pregnancy to find out more about it!
Nutritional Facts of Green Chili
Serving Size – 100 g
- Water – 88.02 g
- Calories – 40 kcal
- Total Fat – 0.4 g (0% of DV)
- Saturated Fat – 0 g (0% of DV)
- Polyunsaturated Fat – 0.2 g (0% of DV)
- Monounsaturated Fat – 0 g (0% of DV)
- Trans Fat – 0 g (0% of DV)
- Cholesterol – 0 g (0% of DV)
- Sodium – 9 mg (0% of DV)
- Total Carbohydrates – 9 g (3% of DV)
- Sugar – 5 g
- Dietary Fibre – 1.5 g (6% of DV)
- Protein – 1.9 g (3% of DV)
- Potassium – 322 mg (9% of DV)
- Vitamins and Minerals
- Vitamin A Benefits – 952 IU (19% of DV)
- Vitamin B6 – 0.506 mg (25% of DV)
- Vitamin C – 143.7 mg (239% of DV)
- Source of Vitamin D Foods – 0 mg (0% of DV)
- Vitamin E – 0.69 mg
- Calcium – 14 mg (1% of DV)
- Cobalamin – 0 mg (0% of DV)
- Iron – 1.03 mg (1% of DV)
- Magnesium – 23 mg (5% of DV)
- Phosphorus – 43 mg
- Zinc – 0.26 mg
All the information above are in relation to a 2,000-calorie diet. The percentage of daily value (% of DV) may differ depending on personal calorie needs.
What are its Health Benefits?
1. Green Chili Supports A Stable Immune
It is no secret that pregnant women are also prone to falling sick or unfit as they bear their babies inside. Green chilis and other types of peppers contain an unbelievably sufficient amount of vitamin C for boosting immunity! Just 100 g of green chili alone already has 143.7 mg of vitamin C, or 237% of the recommended daily value!
2. Green Chili also Manages Blood Sugar Levels and Pressure
Green chili, or all chilis in general is also proven to help in the regulation of blood sugar levels. The extremely low-sugar and low-calorie content at only 5 grams and 40 kcal respectively also match this feature of green chili.
Also, green chili contains benefits of potassium to prevent pregnant women from hypertension, which is indeed hazardous for them given their situation.
3. Green Chili as How to Get Rid of Acne
Acne is also a common problem among pregnant women, and so are other skin problems such as skin sensitivity, heat rash and also stretch marks.
And it is also a matter of fact that pregnant women are sometimes emotionally unbalanced, so it is wise for skin impurities to not add up to their pressure they are already experiencing. Green chili contains antioxidants and also healthy compounds that are also able to make a clear blemish-free skin!
4. Green Chili’s Capsaicin
As a main health benefit of chili, capsaicin offers a whole complete package of health benefits. First, because it releases heat, capsaicin could be useful for healing body aches and pains endured by pregnant women carrying their offspring inside.
And secondly, it treats cold as well! Having common cold during pregnancy creates a great impact to the baby and also our daily activities, and luckily there is green chili to help with this! For your information, chilis are used as a classic remedy for cold and cough for a long time all around the world.
5. Green Chili offers Cancer Protection
During pregnancy, the body experiences a lot of major changes along the way. The antioxidants contained inside green chili offers cancer protection, especially oxidative damage. Green chili also has carotenoids, which are antioxidants that may come in handy to prevent DNA damage and overall cancer protection.
6. Green Chili Contains 143.7 mg of Vitamin C
With 143.7 mg of vitamin C, this makes green chili to contain way more-than-enough supply of vitamin C, at 239% of the daily value! For your information, vitamin C is vital for a healthy immune system and bodily tissues. Vitamin C also needs to be taken regularly because our body lacks the system to produce it.
7. Green Chili as Digestion Helpers
During pregnancy, the digestive system gets irregular activity patterns, sometimes to the point that it interferes and creates havoc to the daily activities of pregnant women. Green chili, as are other peppers offer similar roles to pregnant women just like how it is to normal people; as digestion helpers. With green chili, bloating, gases and cramps are preventable.
8. Green Chili Has Folate
Folate, folic acid or vitamin B9 is needed by pregnant women to prevent neutral tube defect (NTD) in the offspring. In addition, folate also prevents the risk of birth defects that involves the brain or spinal cord. Neural tube defect is a situation that occurs when the spine, brain and skull of the baby does not develop completely.
When NTD happens, survival rate for the infant becomes close to zero. So, to prevent this from happening, pregnant mothers must consume supplementary folate throughout the course of their pregnancy, with increased dosage during the month before conception and during the first trimester.
Cautions and Recommendations on Green Chili
Generally speaking, green chili is in fact okay for pregnant women. But then, being safe does not mean that it has absolutely no side effects when pregnant women consume chilis.
There are both long-term and short-term side effects of green chili when consumed by pregnant women. The short-term side effect is that it leads to allergies, and also gastrointestinal problems such as gastric or bloating. While then, the long-term side effects of green chili during pregnancy is sensitive skin on the baby as the baby is born, characterized by dry, scaly and rash-like skin appearance and texture.
How to Make Vegetarian Green Chili
Ingredients
- ¼ cup of butter or margarine
- 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon of onion flakes
- 1/3 cup of flour
- 1 can of diced tomatoes
- ½ cup of green chili
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of cilantro
- Water
Steps
- First, heat the saucepan to heat the butter or saucepan.
- Add garlic and onion, and cook until the onion gets re-hydrated.
- Add the flour and stir to form a “roux.”
- Next, insert the tomatoes, green chili, salt and cilantro.
- Pour water into the mixture enough to make a nicely thick gravy.
- Finally, simmer for the next 30 minutes.
- Afterwards, the vegetarian green chili is now ready to be served!