So you may feel full sooner if you add some heat to your meal. “There’s some research that capsaicin acts on the hypothalamus - the part of the brain that controls hunger and fullness,” Lane says. “That can help with weight loss and weight management.” ( Read what an endocrinologist says about metabolism’s role in weight loss.) Control your appetiteĬhiles and other spices might also affect your hunger.
“It seems to rev up the body’s fat-burning mechanisms,” says Lane. Some of that research has found that capsaicin boosts the body’s ability to break down fat and burn more energy. Much of the research on spicy foods focuses on capsaicin, the compound that gives chile peppers their kick. Increasing your spice intake could help with weight loss in a couple of different ways: Boost your metabolism Research shows that people who eat more spicy foods are less likely to be obese or carry excess weight. Could it burn calories, too? It sounds strange, but it’s not that far-fetched. That habanero salsa definitely makes your mouth burn. So let’s dig in to get a taste of how hot-and-spicy dishes can benefit your health. “Spicy food is a hot topic in nutrition - no pun intended,” says Patricia Bridget Lane, a registered dietitian/nutritionist. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.
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