Chili peppers originated in South America thousands of years ago and spread to Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. They were introduced to Europe in the 15th century. Chili peppers are used as ingredients in dishes like jalapeño poppers and chili rellenos, and as seasonings for meat and vegetables. They provide various health benefits such as soothing digestive issues and relieving cold symptoms. Chili peppers are measured on the Scoville scale, which rates heat levels from 0 Scoville units for bell peppers up to over 350,000 units for some habanero peppers.