Various research evidence has shown that eating chilli peppers can cause weight loss to occur naturally by speeding up the body's metabolism. Chilli peppers themselves are very low in calories but they also contain properties which boost metabolism.
Researchers at the University of California claim that a chemical that naturally occurs in the chillies, capsaicin, could be the natural solution to speed up the body's fat burning processes. Capsaicin is found in spicy and non-spicy peppers and lends peppers their 'heat.'
Scientists claim that capsaicin could even cause the body to oxidise layers of fat and that people who regularly eat the capsaicin loaded peppers could boost their metabolism by up to 50%.
The researchers studied the effect eating chilli peppers had on a test group consisting of 34 men and women. Some volunteers took capsaicin pills along with a low calorie liquid meal for 28 days and others took a placebo pill. Body weight and body fat were measured at the beginning and end of the study.
The researchers found that energy expenditure, or heat production by those given the highest amounts of capsaicin were almost double that of the people given the placebo, and the effect lasted for several hours after the meal was eaten.
Also the researchers found that men and women who had consumed the pepper supplement had twice as much energy as their non-chilli eating counterparts.
Australian research also proves chillies are good for you
Similarly, an Australian clinical study has found that eating an ounce of chopped chilli peppers every day can protect cholesterol from forming atherosclerotic plaques, and the benefit is measurable in as little amount of time as one month.
Drs. K. D. Ahuja and M. J. Ball of the University of Tasmania found that eating freshly chopped chilli every day slowed the oxidation of cholesterol more effectively than taking vitamin E and antioxidant supplements. To the non-scientists amongst you, oxidation is the chemical interaction between oxygen molecules -the oxidation of cholesterol causes free radical damage in the body, hence the need for antioxidants.
Health benefits of chillies
Hot peppers are full of antioxidants, and are good sources of many essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, foliate, potassium and manganese. Capsaicin has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, and has been used to treat many chronic health conditions, as well as migraines, arthritis and muscle pain. The average hot pepper also contains about 3 grams of fibre, which can help make you feel fuller, so you eat less.
Ways to enjoy hot peppers
One way to add more hot peppers into your diet is to crush them- or buy them crushed in flakes- and sprinkle them onto your food. You can add them to almost any meal, giving it an extra flavour hit as well as helping your metabolism. Some ways to eat them are by adding them to your pasta sauce, a stir fry, or in a soup or casserole. Try more exotic cuisines such as Indian or Mexican that are full of delicious hot spices. If you really cannot stand the heat of chilli peppers then use chilli pills as an alternative. These are promoted as metabolism boosting pills to assist weight loss and contain capsaicin, but not its spicy taste!
Rachael Ann Loxston - Freelance writer/journalist of travel features, film reviews, music articles, social commentary and historical articles. Based in the ...
