Wouldn’t it be great if we could add something to our food that would help us lose weight and boost our health? Chili peppers can do both.

The “magic” ingredient

Capsaicin is a flavorless, odorless, colorless compound found in varying amounts in peppers. Fiery habaneros contain the most. Jalapeños have some. Bell peppers have none.

The hotter, the better

The more capsaicin, the hotter the pepper, and the higher the antioxidant level. Red chilies are usually the hottest, but even the green ones have some capsaicin. Ever wonder why? Capsaicin was likely an adaptation by peppers to keep animals from eating them – a sort of survival mechanism. Unfortunately, peppers put humans off too, stimulating pain receptors on the tongue’s nerve cells, which sends a message to the brain. The good news is that with constant exposure, these cells can become desensitized. In other words, the more we eat it, the more we get used to spicy food.

In fact, once a person gets used to a chili pepper on the tongue, it becomes pleasant. Hot peppers release endorphins, the pleasure hormone. How that happens isn’t clear. But people in ancient Aztec and Mayan societies considered chili peppers an aphrodisiac.

Health Benefits

Capsaicin has captured the interest of the scientific community and studies are now beginning to unveil a few of its secrets. Here’s what the research shows.

• Weight loss benefits without the burn? The capsaicin in peppers has been shown to slightly curb appetite, at least briefly – and sometimes that’s all we need. And peppers can raise body temperature. That warming effect may help boost our metabolism and promote weight loss.
• Capsaicin vs. Cancer It appears that capsaicin may fire a lethal blow at cancer cells by affecting the activity of a protein complex called NF-kappa Beta. This makes it more difficult for cancer to dodge programmed cell death (apoptosis).

The great thing about chili peppers is that there are so many ways to use them. Sprinkle cayenne or paprika pepper on anything from eggs to pizza or simply add a dash of chili pepper to warm water in the morning or before meals. If you’re a fan of fresh chili peppers, they’re available throughout the year, although they are the most abundant and tasty during the summer and early fall months.