Where to Find Quality Spices

4. Time to store your homemade paprika! Grab a cool, dry spot in your kitchen and find a cute little airtight container or spice jar. Keep it away from the sun to make sure the flavor stays at its peak!

On the other hand, is chili powder and paprika the same? Not quite. Chili powder is a blend of spices, predominantly ground chili peppers, complemented by garlic powder, cumin, and sometimes oregano. Its use is pivotal in chili con carne, tacos, and meat rubs. The components of chili powder can vary, offering a spectrum of flavors from mild to intensely spicy.

Although the study did not show a drop in markers of the inflammatory response in the blood, the results are thought to be due to inflammatory proteins present in joint space. One of the studies showed joint pain eased in two hours with a curcurin supplement and one hour with a nonsteroidal inflammatory response drug, ibuprofen, a drug recommended for joint problems. The duration of curcumin supplementation was 4 to 12 weeks.

So, if bell peppers are in the same scientific classification as cayenne chili pepper, why aren't bell peppers hot? It comes down to a chemical compound called capsaicin. This chemical is the sole reason why a jalapeño is spicy and bell pepper is not. A bell pepper has no capsaicin. Capsaicin attaches itself to the mucous membranes in our mouths which in turn send out the fiery sensation. That heat in your mouth (or hands) will vary greatly depending on what type of chili pepper you've eaten. Peppers are ranked by their heat, or the amount of capsaicin they contain, on a scale called the Scoville Scale. Their capsaicin concentration is given a number on the scale and it is called Scoville Heat Units. Bell peppers do not have capsaicin, so they have zero Scoville Heat Units, therefore they are way at the bottom of the Scoville scale. 

Q: Can I control the spiciness of crushed red pepper? A: The heat of crushed red pepper can vary, but you can control its spiciness by using more or less in your dishes.