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From the National Telegraph
DEAR DR. BLONZ: I am typing this at a coffee bar with a group of friends, and we are having a discussion about hot peppers. Irrespective of whether there is any logic to it, the prevailing opinion here is that eating hot food such as cayenne, jalapeno, habanero or serrano peppers will increase your thermal metabolic temperature, and this will cause you to burn calories (fat) more rapidly.Have you heard anything like that? If so, please respond before I burn the lining out of my intestines.
– S.Q., Seattle
DEAR S.Q.: Capsicum is the botanical family that peppers belong to, and capsaicin (cap-SAY-sin) is the key compound in peppers that is responsible for their fiery taste. Hot peppers have been used for their curative properties by a number of ancient cultures, and capsaicin is now being investigated to see how it works.There are a number of encouraging results, many involving some aspect of the way capsaicin binds with nerve receptors. I am unaware, however, of any research that hints that capsaicin might have an ability to encourage the body to burn fat more rapidly. Any perspiration you might experience when you eat fiery hot, spicy foods does not come as a result of “burning” large quantities of calories, whether they come from fat, carbohydrate or protein. If you have been eating those hot, hot foods, I hope you’ve been doing so because you enjoy like the taste.
Your comments raise a good point, namely that peppers should be handled with caution. They contain an oil-based resin that can be quite irritating, if not downright dangerous, to eyes, mucous membranes and sensitive skin. Keep in mind that capsaicin serves as a base for many self-defense sprays.
Warnings aside, peppers come in a wide variety of flavors, much more than simply hot and not hot, and they make wonderful additions to many dishes. There are numerous cookbooks and an entire magazine and Web site (www.chilepepper.com) devoted their culinary uses.
It is well known that eating spicy foods will increase your endorphin production and raise your metabolism (albiet marginally). Also, eating hot foods acts as an appetite surpressant (if you don’t consume ice cream to cool the burn).
Chilehead Comments: 3 Comments
Posted by: Nick Lindauer - Categories: Uncategorized
Permalink: Dr. needs to do some research
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3 Comments
I’d be interested to see those studies. Honestly, I haven’t done any searches through Medline or any other medical search engine to try and find the studies, so perhaps they ARE out there somewhere. As long as the studies use good statistical methods and design, I know I’d pay attention to it. Heck, as a doctor myself, it would give me more ammo to refer people to the beneficial uses of capsaicin and capsaicin-infused foods & products.
Joe – Here’s a few new ones I’ve come across, though these are not the original ones I was thinking of:
The effectiveness of popular, non-prescription weight loss supplements
Effect of capsaicin on substrate oxidation and weight maintenance after modest body-weight loss in human subjects
would like to know is ti true that there is a trigger on the brain that is common between heroin addicts and hot peppers lovers?
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Factually speaking, the so-called “doctor” is correct. There is no published research (that I know of) or evidence-based medicine that confirms the nutritional/dietary effect of capsaicin. However, it is WIDELY and anecdotally known through decades of modern uses that capsaicin has an anti-caloric effect by both decreasing appetite and increasing caloric burn. Doubtful that anyone could truly lose tangible weight on a purely hot sauce diet, however it would make a nice adjunct to efforts of weight loss through other, well-established methods. Interestingly enough, capsaicin has analgesic qualities. Most people have probably heard of Zostrix-brand skin creme, which is great for certain kinds of pain, such as from herpes zoster (shingles). It has also been used to treat severely burned patients in some centers as well. Capsaicin wraps are used on the affected areas, which then deplete the skin & tissues of substance P, which allows the brain to detect pain. The article author downplays the uses of capsaicin, but just because there’s no research-based evidence at present. If someone was willing to funnel some cash into such a project (unlikely), I am willing to be it would show some interesting results.
Joe – There are several studies that I have read in regards to endorphin production / a raise in metabolic rate – which leads to weight loss. I’ll dig them up and post, some are quite old I recall.