Adding chili pepper to meals can help adults eat less food by slowing down how fast they eat, according to researchers at Pennsylvania State University.
The study found that increasing the spiciness of dishes reduced meal portions by up to 18 percent among adult participants without ruining their enjoyment of the food.
Researchers conducted three separate experiments involving 130 adults, according to a report by health publication Fitbook. Participants were offered milder and spicier versions of beef chili and chicken tikka masala while scientists recorded their eating speed, meal duration, and total food consumed. Participants also rated the taste and spiciness of each meal.
In the experiment using beef chili, volunteers who received the spicier version ate 11 percent less food, which equaled a reduction of approximately 46 grams. Scientists observed that participants ate more slowly, while their enjoyment of the flavor did not change significantly.
An even more pronounced effect occurred during the test with chicken tikka masala. When researchers increased the total amount of chili in the dish, participants consumed 18 percent less food and their eating speed declined by 17 percent.
Impact of capsaicin on eating habits
The research team suggested that the main factor behind the reduced consumption was the burning sensation triggered by capsaicin. Capsaicin is the naturally occurring chemical compound in chili peppers responsible for their spicy heat.
Spicy foods encourage individuals to eat at a more measured pace. Previous scientific studies have established that slower eating is associated with consuming smaller quantities of food during a meal.
Participants in the Penn State experiments did not drink significantly more water while eating the hotter dishes. Because water intake remained steady, researchers concluded that the decrease in food consumption could not be explained merely by feeling full from liquids.
Portion control and weight loss limits
Authors of the study emphasized that their findings do not demonstrate that chili pepper works as a weight loss solution. Although incorporating the spice into meals helps manage portion sizes by slowing eating rates, scientists cautioned that there is no current basis to treat spicy food as a method for losing weight.
Pennsylvania State University, located in University Park, Pennsylvania, is a public research institution known for studying human behavior, nutrition, and sensory science. Chicken tikka masala is a popular curry dish featuring spiced meat, while beef chili is a traditional stew made with chili peppers and ground meat.
