Is It True That Spicy Food Helps You Lose Weight?

Chile, hot paprika, ginger, chilli, chili, cayenne, Tabasco … If you like spicy food, surely all these foods will be familiar to you and you will even enjoy just looking at them.

However, spicy food is not to everyone’s taste. There are many who cannot with it and who, in addition, suffer stomach problems when consuming it. Today we will talk more in depth about that topic.

Also, you may have heard that spicy food is good for losing weight. What is the truth behind this statement? Is spicy suitable for weight loss? We explain it to you in the following article.

The relationship between spicy food and weight loss

First of all, we must be very clear that not all people assimilate spicy in the same way. This is something that you should check for yourself to regulate or even avoid its consumption, since, if you have a sensitive stomach or suffer from a problem in the intestines, eating too spicy may not be recommended.

In fact, some studies suggest that the capsaicin it contains can irritate the esophagus and promote reflux. Therefore, we recommend that you always eat spicy food in moderation and, if you tend to suffer from stomach problems, avoid it as much as possible.

Having made this warning, we move on to the matter at hand: can spicy food help us lose weight? Well, first of all, it is important to note that the only way to lose weight in a healthy way is to eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly.

No single food has the ability to make us lose weight, and spiciness is no different. Now, this does not mean that spicy food cannot be our ally when it comes to losing weight. And it is that, combined with a balanced diet, it helps us to enhance the effects of the diet.

How can spicy food help us lose weight?

All spicy foods, such as those mentioned above, contain capsaicin, a type of resin that acts as an excellent active ingredient in metabolism.

An article published in the journal Nutrients , which analyzed all the studies on this substance to date, concluded that in adequate amounts it can be very beneficial for metabolic problems (such as obesity). This is because, among other functions, it favors the metabolism of glucose, thus helping to reduce its levels.

On the other hand, it can also be helpful in relieving fluid retention. Research shows that it helps promote sodium excretion through urine. Remember that excess salt (which contains sodium) is one of the causes of this problem.

We know this is not directly related to weight loss, but this problem makes us look bloated. It may even appear that we carry more weight than we actually do.

Finally, some studies show that the consumption of capsaicin produces a longer feeling of satiety. Thus, it can lead us to eat less (and especially avoid snacking between meals), contributing to weight loss.

The best spicy foods to lose weight

Once you have seen its properties, what kind of spicy food should you include in your diet to lose weight? Here we recommend a few to help you, but there are many more.

Take note of the healthiest:

• Chili peppers : they contain the most capsaicin and, consequently, the hottest.
• Cumin: it is much less spicy, but it is very suitable to include in our meals (for example, with legumes).
• Curry : turmeric gives it its characteristic yellow color and contains small amounts of capsaicin, very suitable to include in our diet, without feeling the consequences of “very spicy” food.
• Cayenne pepper: it is  usually sold both in grain and in powder, so we can better control the quantities and include it in moderation in our meals.

One last recommendation: capsaicin is responsible for the itchiness that this type of food usually produces. Therefore, the more spicy, the more capsaicin it will contain. However, if you are not used to spicy, it may be better to go little by little: from lighter foods to stronger ones.

We hope you are encouraged to include spicy food in your diet and enjoy all its benefits. You have many delicious recipes. And if you combine it with the practice of sports or some exercise even better. In case of doubts, we recommend that you go to a nutritionist: he will be able to guide you better in the world of spicy food.