Spice up your weight loss: The surprising benefits of chili peppers
Weight loss is a long-term process that requires permanent changes not only in eating habits but in one's entire lifestyle. However, nothing stops you from reasonably speeding up the appearance of the desired effects. Just reach for a few spices from the kitchen shelf that stimulate metabolism.
Consider using chili peppers, which provide dishes with their distinctive spicy taste due to their capsaicin content. Different types of peppers add varying degrees of spiciness, measured on the Scoville scale (SHU). Ordinary red bell pepper, which is not spicy, has 0 SHU. The spiciness of black pepper ranges from 100 to 500 SHU, but Tabasco pepper can reach around 50,000 SHU. The very hot Carolina Reaper pepper hits about 1.5 million SHU.
How does chili pepper affect the body?
Spicy peppers, as well as other spices containing capsaicin derivatives or capsaicinoids, not only enhance the taste of dishes but also stimulate thermogenesis. This effect also occurs after consuming black pepper or curcumin. As a result, the body heats up due to a natural defensive reaction as it tries to cool down.
This reaction to capsaicin demands energy, meaning that you burn some calories just by eating. Regularly eating dishes with added chili peppers can contribute to fat reduction, and some people might also experience a decreased appetite. However, it's important to remember that chili pepper is not a "miracle cure" for weight loss; it merely aids the process. Maintaining a healthy perspective is wise.
Research has shown anti-cancer properties
The properties of chili peppers draw attention not only from those on a weight-loss diet but also from doctors and scientists. In 2006, research results from a team at Nottingham University were published, showing that capsaicin prompts cancer cells to self-destruct.
"As these compounds attack the very heart of the tumour cells, we believe that we have in effect discovered a fundamental 'Achilles heel' for all cancers," said Dr. Timothy Bates, a member of the research team (source: news.bbc.co.uk).
Research into the role of capsaicin in cancer prevention is ongoing, and there is still no definitive evidence of capsaicin's anti-cancer effects. While chili pepper can play a role in prevention, it currently cannot cure cancer.
Excess capsaicin can be toxic
Chili pepper, when consumed in small amounts, positively affects the body by boosting metabolism. However, in excess, when the body's cooling process requires too much energy, problems such as breathing difficulties may occur. Capsaicin can also irritate the stomach lining or lead to indigestion.
