According to research from Purdue University, consuming cayenne pepper can "help reduce appetite and burn more calories than usual after each meal , especially if we do not consume this spice regularly," explains Richard Mattes. Although he admits that This measure alone is not enough to reduce overweight and the obesity epidemic that plagues the West, Mattes is convinced that "adding several small changes in our eating habits can have an effect on weight control."
In the study, published in Physiology & Behavior , the researchers demonstrate the beneficial effects of the spice in 25 subjects from amounts as small as one gram. In the experiments, the consumption of red pepper produced an increase in body temperature in all participants and made them burn more calories, increasing natural energy expenditure. In addition, in those not used to consuming the spice, it considerably reduced the appetite, especially for salty, fatty and sweet foods. However, the authors also observed that once we get used to red pepper, it loses its effectiveness.
Red or cayenne pepper is the powder resulting from the grinding of the fruits of one or several species of Capsicum , that is, chili peppers, previously dried.
