What To Know
- The popular notion that eating spicy food will help you lose weight has some truth to it, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
- If you’re trying to lose weight, you may want to choose a hot sauce made with vegetables, such as the original Frank’s RedHot Cayenne Pepper Sauce.
- While hot sauce is not a magic bullet for weight loss, it can help you cut back on calories and get more vegetables into your diet.
I was chatting with a friend the other day (hey, Karen!) and she was telling me about the latest diet trend she was trying. It involved eating a lot of hot sauce. She was wondering if the hot sauce would boost her metabolism. I told her I didn’t know for sure but I would look into it for her.
I did some research and found out that hot sauce can indeed boost your metabolism. But it’s not because of the capsaicin, the chemical that makes hot sauce hot.
Does Hot Sauce Boost Your Metabolism?
Spicy food lovers, rejoice! The popular notion that eating spicy food will help you lose weight has some truth to it, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. But there’s a catch. The study found that while eating chili peppers can boost your metabolism, it won’t help you lose weight.
Researchers at the University of Wyoming examined the effects of capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their heat, on calorie burning. Capsaicin is also known as the chili pepper’s “active ingredient.” Study subjects were given a capsaicin supplement equivalent to eating between 3 and 10 chili peppers (the amount of capsaicin in a typical Thai meal). Then, the researchers measured how much energy the subjects expended for the next four hours.
Capsaicin is a thermogenic compound, meaning it generates heat. It does this by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, which speeds up metabolism. The study found that capsaicin increased the subjects’ metabolic rate by about 20 percent. This means that the subjects burned an extra 190 calories per day.
But the capsaicin didn’t have any effect on the subjects’ appetite or food intake. So, while capsaicin can boost metabolism, it won’t help you lose weight if you don’t also reduce your calorie intake.
The study also found that the thermogenic effect of capsaicin is short-lived. The metabolic boost only lasted for about two hours after the subjects ate the chili peppers. So, you’ll need to eat chili peppers frequently to keep the thermogenic effect going.
So, if you love spicy food, go ahead and enjoy it.
Are There Any Potential Negative Side Effects Of Consuming Hot Sauce Regularly?
- May cause irritation if you’re sensitive to the ingredients in hot sauce
- Can be a trigger for acid reflux or heartburn
- Can add a lot of sodium to your diet if you’re not careful
- Some people may have an allergic reaction
- Can be habit-forming
What Is The Recommended Daily Intake Of Hot Sauce For Optimal Metabolic Benefits?
Adding hot sauce to your meals may be a simple way to get more vegetables into your diet and speed up weight loss.
One tablespoon of hot sauce has only three calories, but it can add a lot of flavor to your meals. If you’re trying to lose weight, you may want to choose a hot sauce made with vegetables, such as the original Frank‘s RedHot Cayenne Pepper Sauce. This hot sauce is made with cayenne peppers, vinegar, and spices.
While hot sauce is not a magic bullet for weight loss, it can help you cut back on calories and get more vegetables into your diet.
One study found that adding 1/2 cup of chopped vegetables to a meal increased the number of vegetables eaten by participants by 9%.
Another study found that eating a salad with a low-calorie dressing before a meal led to people eating fewer calories overall.
If you’re looking for a way to add some extra flavor to your meals without adding calories, hot sauce may be a good option. Just make sure to choose a hot sauce made with vegetables, and use it in moderation.
Hot sauce can also be a good source of antioxidants, which can help protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can lead to inflammation and disease.
Some hot sauces, such as habanero peppers, are particularly high in antioxidants.
What Is The Active Ingredient In Hot Sauce That Is Thought To Boost Metabolism?
Hot sauce can contain many different ingredients, and the specific active ingredient that is thought to boost metabolism can vary depending on the brand and type of hot sauce. Some common ingredients in hot sauce include capsaicin, vinegar, and garlic.
Capsaicin is a compound found in chili peppers that is responsible for their spicy flavor. It is also thought to have metabolism-boosting properties. Some studies have shown that capsaicin can increase metabolism by increasing the rate at which the body breaks down fat.
Vinegar is another ingredient that is found in many hot sauces. It is thought to have metabolism-boosting properties as well. Some studies have shown that vinegar can increase metabolism by helping the body to break down fat and by increasing the number of calories the body burns.
Garlic is another ingredient that is found in some hot sauces.
How Can You Incorporate Hot Sauce Into Your Diet To Maximize Its Metabolic Benefits?
– Add hot sauce to your favorite dishes: Hot sauce can be added to a variety of dishes, including soups, stews, and stir-fries. It can also be used as a condiment for tacos, burritos, and other Mexican-inspired dishes.
– Make your own hot sauce: You can make your own hot sauce using fresh chili peppers and other ingredients. This can be a great way to control the ingredients and ensure that you’re getting the most benefits from the hot sauce.
Have Any Studies Been Conducted To Test The Effectiveness Of Hot Sauce In Boosting Metabolism?
Although some studies have been conducted to test the effectiveness of hot sauce in boosting metabolism, the results have been mixed. Some studies have found that hot sauce can indeed increase metabolism, but the effects are usually small and may not be significant enough to produce meaningful weight loss.
One study found that eating chili peppers with a meal increased metabolism by about 20%, but this effect was only seen in people who did not regularly eat chili peppers. Another study found that hot sauce containing capsaicin, the active ingredient in chili peppers, increased metabolism by about 8% in people who ate it regularly.
In addition, some studies have found that hot sauce may have other health benefits, such as reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and increasing the feeling of fullness after meals. However, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of hot sauce on metabolism and overall health.
Summary
Spicy food lovers, rejoice! It turns out that hot sauce may not only be a delicious addition to your favorite foods, but it may also have a positive impact on your metabolism. While the exact effects of hot sauce on metabolism are still being studied, some research suggests that certain compounds found in chili peppers and other spicy foods may have metabolism-boosting properties.
For example, capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their heat, has been shown to increase metabolism by inducing a thermogenic effect in the body. This means that capsaicin helps to generate heat in the body, which can lead to increased calorie burning even at rest.
