Chilli
chilli
Chilli is a spicy fruit used to add heat and flavour to food. It can help food taste interesting with less salt, but eating a lot of it can upset the stomach for some people.
Not a declarable allergen
This is not on India’s mandatory declaration list. It may still matter to you, and you can add it to your own avoid list.
What it is
Chilli is the fruit of a group of plants in the pepper family. It can be used fresh (green chilli), dried and ground into red chilli powder, or made into pastes and sauces. The spicy taste comes from a compound called capsaicin, which is found mostly in the inner white parts of the chilli.
Nutrition
Chilli is usually eaten in small amounts, so it does not add much in terms of calories or nutrients to a meal. Fresh chilli contains small amounts of vitamin C and other plant compounds, but packaged foods generally use only a little, so its nutritional contribution is minor.
How it can affect health
Can affect: In normal amounts used for flavour, chilli does not usually cause problems for most people. In large amounts, it can cause a burning feeling in the mouth or stomach, acid reflux, or stomach pain, especially in people who are not used to spicy food.
May contribute to:
- acid reflux or heartburn in sensitive people
- stomach irritation with very frequent heavy use
Who should limit it
People with acid reflux, stomach ulcers, or a sensitive digestive system may want to limit chilli. People who are allergic to chilli or other members of the pepper family should also be cautious.
Where it is found
Chilli is widely used in Indian packaged foods such as namkeen, chips, instant noodles, pickles, sauces, and spice mixes. It appears on labels as green chilli, red chilli, chilli powder, or mirchi.
Also written as
The same word, written in another script
- mirchien
A different word for the same thing
- chilien
- green chilien
- green chillien
- red chillien
Names in other languages
- English
- Chilli
- हिन्दी
- मिर्च
- मराठी
- मिरची
- বাংলা
- মরিচ
- தமிழ்
- மிளகாய்
- తెలుగు
- మిర్చి
- ಕನ್ನಡ
- ಮೆಣಸಿನಕಾಯಿ
Products on Laddoo that list it
In alphabetical order.
- MALHAR FARSANShiv Farsan · Namkeen
- Patal Poha ChivdaChitale BANDHU · Namkeen
- Schezwan ChutneyChing's Secret · Namkeen
- VEG KADHAI SPICE MIXRasoi Magic · Staples
Matched against each printed ingredient list. A pack not listed here may still contain it under a name we have not matched: check its label.
Questions people ask
- Is chilli good or bad for health?
- Chilli adds flavour and some plant compounds, but eating very large amounts regularly can irritate the stomach for some people. In normal food amounts, it is generally just a flavouring.
- Does chilli cause ulcers?
- Chilli does not directly cause ulcers, but it can make existing stomach irritation or ulcer symptoms feel worse for some people.
- Why does chilli burn the mouth?
- The compound capsaicin in chilli triggers heat-sensing nerves in the mouth, which creates a burning feeling even though there is no real heat.
- Can chilli help with weight loss?
- Some studies suggest capsaicin may slightly increase how many calories the body burns, but the effect is small and chilli alone is not a weight loss solution.
- Is red chilli powder different from green chilli?
- Both come from the same family of plants. Red chilli powder is made from dried, ripened chillies and is usually more concentrated in flavour than fresh green chilli.
This page is written by AI as general information about the ingredient, not about any pack. It is not medical advice.