A study conducted by Purdue University found that consuming red peppers can help curb a person's appetite and thus help them lose weight. Other studies have also found that capsaicin — the component that gives chili peppers their heat — reduces hunger and increases a person's ability to burn calories.
The Study
The study included 25 non-overweight people: 13 who liked spicy food and 12 who did not. The preferred amount of pepper was 0.3 g for people who did not like spice and 1.8 g for those who did. In general, red pepper consumption increased core body temperature and burned more calories through natural energy expenditure. This was most effective through actually eating it rather than taking it in a capsule — tasting the pepper maximized the digestive process, which helped with appetite control.
The Catch
The results were most effective for the 12 participants who did not like high levels of spice. Researchers concluded that new exposure to the pepper helped maximize the effects while eating a normal amount. It loses effectiveness the more tolerance a person builds for the spice. Researchers are still looking into how long it can be effective for new users and how to adjust diets to maximize the effect.
This post is based on a study conducted by Purdue University. You can find the full article here.