Chilies are the go to ingredient for adding heat to foods and taking recipes to the next level. Chilies, cayenne pepper, and many other spices contain a potent active ingredient called capsaicin. This ingredient contains anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-obesity effects.
Researchers from the University of Adelaide have found that hot chili peppers may help with obesity.
The research team from the University’s Centre for Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Diseases looked at the link between chili pepper receptors (TRPV1) in the stomach and the feeling of satiety or fullness.
As reported in the study:
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#228B22″ class=”” size=”17″]”The stomach stretches when it is full, which activates nerves in the stomach to tell the body that it has had enough food. We found that this activation is regulated through hot chilli pepper or TRPV1 receptors,” says Associate Professor Amanda Page, Senior Research Fellow in the University of Adelaide’s School of Medicine and lead author on the paper.[/pullquote]
“It is known from previous studies that capsaicin, found in hot chillies, reduces food intake in humans. And what we’ve discovered is that deletion of TRPV1 receptors dampens the response of gastric nerves to stretch — resulting in a delayed feeling of fullness and the consumption of more food. Therefore part of the effect of capsaicin on food intake may be mediated via the stomach. We also found that TRPV1 receptors can be disrupted in high fat diet induced obesity,” she added.
Dr. Kentish, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Fellow from the University of Adelaide’s School of Medicine believes that the study findings will open doors for further research and the development of new treatments.
“The next stage of research will involve investigation of the mechanisms behind TRPV1 receptor activation with the aim of developing a more palatable therapy. We will also do further work to determine why a high-fat diet de-sensitises TRPV1 receptors and investigate if we can reverse the damage,” he says.
The study showing that hot chili peppers may help with obesity was published in the journal PLOS One.
Note: None of the information in our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The content on our website is for educational purposes only.
DON’T FORGET to sign up for our weekly newsletter to get our latest articles, updates, free recipes and giveaways.
Hot chili peppers may inhibit gut tumors.
Spicy foods like cayenne pepper are linked to lower risk of early death.
Stop a heart attack with cayenne pepper.
REFERENCES:
1. “Hot Chilli May Unlock a New Treatment for Obesity.” The University of Adelaide. The University of Adelaide, 18 Aug. 2015. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
2. “TRPV1 Channels and Gastric Vagal Afferent Signalling in Lean and High Fat Diet Induced Obese Mice.” PLOS One. PLOS One, 18 Aug. 2015. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
