Even among the most hardened of foodies, spicy foods can be quite polarizing.. However, regardless if you’re a bigger fan of the sweet stuff instead of the heat, it might be worthwhile to change up your taste preferences. Peppers are a spice most homes and restaurants can’t do without. However, this humbles seasoning does much more than add a little kick to every meal. Peppers can perform a number of unconventional uses – some of which have absolutely nothing to do with food. Read on to discover the various possible applications of peppers around your home. (h/t to MyFamilySurvivalPlan.com)

7 Unconventional ways to use peppers

With their hot, pungent flavor, peppers can definitely spice up any prepared meal. But did you know they could also bring spicy changes to your household? Below you can find a list of surprising uses of peppers.

• Peppers can keep ants away. It goes without saying that ants are a huge nuisance in any household. Not only is it frustrating to see a colony of ants running around your kitchen, they can also cause a lot of damage as well. These tiny bugs might love all things sugary and sweet, they absolutely hate peppers. Sprinkling a bit of cayenne pepper or black pepper can keep ants from frolicking about your household. You could also make a pepper and water solution to spray near entrances. While pepper can’t really kill the ants, deterring them from entering is significantly better than the alternative.
• Peppers can protect your garden from parasites. Without any defensive measures, your garden will become an easy target for a variety of parasites. To keep these garden pests at bay, sprinkle a mixture of equal parts black pepper and flour around the growing plants.
• Peppers can deter squirrels from looting your bird feeders. If you happen to have bird feeders around your household, squirrel raiding squads would probably be an extreme nuisance. However, while birds don’t usually mind pepper, squirrels can’t stand it at all. In fact, the high amounts of vitamin A found in peppers could improve birds’ plumage. All you need to do is sprinkle some cayenne pepper around the feeder to keep those pesky squirrels away.
• Peppers can give your clothes a bit more color. If you want to breathe life into clothes that have lost their color over the years, you don’t need to purchase any expensive products to get the job done. Sprinkle some spicy powdered peppers into the wash can easily make those colors pop out as if they’re brand new. In addition, the pepper could keep the colors from running. You don’t even need to worry about having peppery clothes as the fine powder would just wash right off.
• Peppers can keep your migraines at bay. Peppers harbor a bioactive compound called capsaicin which acts as a natural pain reliever. This compound binds with pain receptors, triggering a burning sensation that desensitizes them to various forms of pain. A report by the National Headache Foundation found that those who took a nasal spray containing chili pepper extract experienced complete pain relief against headache and migraine pain. (Related: Scientists look at the potential of red peppers for creating new bioactive compounds.)
• Peppers can clear up your sinuses. Did you know that a pepper a day can keep the common cold away? Chemicals present in peppers have been shown to cause irritation in the nose membranes. This causes the nose to produce much thinner mucus, making peppers a natural nasal decongestant. However, those who have problems dealing with spicy foods can try using a mixture of eucalyptus drops and liquid pepper. Place that mixture into a steamer and give it a whiff to clear up those clogged sinuses.
• Peppers can help detoxify the liver. Capsaicin isn’t only good for your head, it can also bring surprisingly beneficial effects for your liver. In fact, studies show that the bioactive compound can even help prevent liver damage and deterioration. Get the most out of capsaicin by drinking this mixture before breakfast every morning:
  • A cup of water
  • One lemon or lime, squeezed
  • One teaspoon (tsp.) of the natural sweetener of your choice (Maple syrup or honey are good for this)
  • 1/4 tsp. of cayenne pepper

Do yourself a favor and stock up on some cayenne pepper and black pepper. Even if you don’t eat them everyday, you never know when you’ll need to solve an ant problem or grapple with a migraine. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and you’ll be anything but sorry when you’ve got pepper around your home.

Visit FoodCures.news to read up on more natural solutions to everyday problems.

Sources include:

MyFamilySurvivalPlan.com

Food.NDDTV.com

Healthline.com

Headaches.org

MedicalXpress.com