Capsaicin is the compound found in spicy hot peppers which makes them spicy hot. It has been found to have many health benefits, and the new research on its relation to mitigating obesity is exciting.
Obesity is caused by an imbalance between calorie intake and energy dissipation. In our bodies, white fat cells store energy and brown fat cells serve as thermogenic (heat produced by burning fat) machinery to burn stored fat. Eating calorie-rich food and a lack of physical activity cause an imbalance in metabolism that leads to obesity.
Hot peppers, including cayenne, chiles, serranos, jalapenos and all your frightfully-hot favorites, are also high in antioxidants, which help keep oxidative stress and inflammation down. Chronic inflammation has been linked to accumulation of belly fat, along with many other illnesses. These peppers are also great for detoxifying the body – an important step in healthy weight loss.
Whether you are trying to lose weight or not, with all the health benefits of the many amazing hot peppers out there, it may be worth it to include some in your diet somewhere, even in small amounts. A little bit of fire may be just what that recipe needed!
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