Jalapenos are hot peppers that add a spicy flavor to lots of different foods. If you find fresh jalapenos too spicy, you might like them pickled. Pickling softens their taste, making them a bit easier to eat if you don’t like very spicy things. But you might wonder if pickled jalapenos are healthy.
The answer is yes! When you eat them in reasonable amounts, pickled jalapenos can be good for your health. Here is a list of 10 healthy things they can do for your body when you add them to a balanced diet.
Table of Contents
1. Full of Important Antioxidants
Antioxidants help your body fight off free radicals, which could hurt your cells if there are too many of them. Pickled jalapenos have several types of antioxidants like vitamin C and E, plus flavonoids, and carotenoids such as beta carotene.
These antioxidants help reduce swelling in the body, keep your immune system working well, are good for your heart, and help protect against long-term illnesses. So, when you eat pickled jalapenos, you’re giving your body a helping hand with antioxidants.
2. Good Source of Vitamin C
Getting enough vitamin C is key for your immune system, skin, how your body uses iron, and for making collagen. One big pickled jalapeno can give you about 11% of the daily required amount of vitamin C.
By including pickled jalapenos in your sandwiches, tacos, salads, and other dishes, you can easily get the vitamin C your body needs. This vitamin even helps your body take in iron from plant foods better.
3. Contain Helpful Capsaicinoids
Capsaicinoids are what make peppers spicy, and capsaicin is the most popular one that’s in jalapenos and other hot peppers.
Studies show that capsaicin can help with pain relief and may lower the chances of heart problems, inflammation, and cancer. Even though pickled jalapenos aren’t as spicy as fresh ones, they still have these good-for-you capsaicinoids.
4. Work as a Prebiotic
Prebiotics are like food for the good bacteria in your gut. The fiber and carbs in jalapenos are natural prebiotics.
When you pickle jalapenos, you keep and even boost these benefits. Eating pickled jalapenos can help the good bacteria in your digestive system grow.
5. Full of Electrolytes
Electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium, and sodium are important for staying hydrated, nerve function, kidneys, and blood pressure.
Pickled jalapenos can help replace the key electrolytes you lose when you sweat. This makes them a great snack, especially after you’ve exercised and need to get your electrolytes back to normal.
6. Improve Digestion
These spicy treats also contain fiber, which is needed for a good digestive system. Fiber makes it easier for food to move through your intestines so you’re less likely to get blocked up.
Studies show that the probiotics created when jalapenos are pickled also help with digestion by keeping the bacteria in your gut balanced.
7. Keep Your Heart Healthy
The capsaicin, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics in pickled jalapenos can all be good for your heart. Research suggests these ingredients may lower blood pressure, bad cholesterol, the clumping of platelets, and the buildup of plaque in arteries.
Having pickled jalapenos in your meals might help reduce the risk of heart disease if you also live a healthy lifestyle overall. Although, more studies on this are needed.
8. Provide Vitamin K
This fat-soluble vitamin is crucial for blood clotting and healing cuts. Vitamin K also helps manage how calcium is used in your body, which is good for bones and the heart.
Pickled jalapenos have a decent amount of vitamin K. Regularly eating them can help you get enough of this important vitamin.
9. Have Vitamin A
Beta carotene in pickled jalapenos acts as a source of vitamin A in the body. Your body can change it into vitamin A as needed. Vitamin A is good for your immune system, eyesight, and communication between cells.
Jalapenos also bring a good amount of vitamin A in retinol form. So, eating pickled jalapenos helps your body get this vitamin that does many things.
10. May Fight Cancer
As mentioned, pickled jalapenos have lots of antioxidants and compounds that reduce swelling. Some early research also shows that capsaicin might help stop cancer cells from growing and spreading.
Although more research is needed, eating pickled jalapenos might help you because of their antioxidants and capsaicin, which could fight cancer.
The Final Thoughts
Pickled jalapenos taste tangy, salty, and spicy at the same time. But beyond their great taste, they have health benefits that scientists support. From antioxidants and vitamins to probiotics and capsaicin, pickled jalapenos bring a lot of good nutrients.
You can add them to lots of dishes like Tex-Mex food, sandwiches, burgers, eggs, salads, or nachos, to make your meals tasty and healthier. Just remember to not eat too many because they can upset your stomach. Overall, having pickled jalapenos as part of a varied diet can make you healthier and happier.
