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Chilies, Can They Help You to Control Your Weight?
Iam a huge fan of spicy hot chili peppers. When it comes to adding a little heat and whole lot of flavor to food with zero fat, no processed sugars, and hardly any calories at all – chilies are a one of my best friends!
But do hot chilies really help you lose weight? Do they increase your metabolism as many people claim? Let’s take a closer look at these lip tinglers and find out why they could potential help you to lose weight and if they increase metabolism.
Some of the pleasure of eating and cooking with chilies actually comes from pain. It might sound extreme, but the active ingredient, capsaicin, activates the same pain pathways than heat or abrasion. A scientist even created a scale based on pure capsaicum, called the Scoville scale, that ranks chilies according to the pain or stinging they inflict.
But the burning question is, can they help you to lose weight and increase metabolism? The short answer is yes and no. As I mentioned, chilies bring a lot of character and flavor to cooking without unwanted calories and fat, helping you to enjoy lighter meals and lose or maintain weight. Eating spicy, hot food can also help you to feel full without eating large portions. Chilies also cause your body to release heat and increase your heart rate – both help you burn more calories. Sadly, most studies show that chilies do not increase your metabolic rate.
However, they do have other very powerful benefits for the body. Chili peppers are a good source of vitamins A, C, and E. They are rich in folic acid and potassium, low in sodium, and contain no carbohydrates. Because they contain capsaicin, they have been studied for their ability to stimulate circulation and as a potential medication for arthritis sufferers.
The best way to incorporate chilies into your diet is to go fresh and use them in healthy, home-cooked meals. If you know you can’t take the “heat”, start with milder chili like jalapeño and slowly work your way up. Removing the seeds and the white membrane from inside of a fresh chili can make it more mild.
Related Posts
- Find out how to handle hot peppers from my friend Kathy Maister at startcooking.com.
- Read about the top ten foods that help you to lose weight on Joy Bauer’s Healthy Bite.
- Read about the best way to “cure the burn” of chili peppers and their chemistry secrets.
Related Recipes
- Pickled cherry peppers are sweet and hot. Try this spicy appetizer.
- If you’re a seafood fan, check out chipotle orange shrimp with spicy lime mayo.
- Meat lovers can add chillies to pulled pork.
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July 27, 2010, 10:19 am
I love chilies in most things.I try and eat them in my diet.I had to lose weightas it was making me depressed.I love your site it is informative colourful really good.
Thank you
Rod