We Indians love to add spices to our food to enhance its taste revelation but including red cayenne pepper in your diet in a controlled amount can help your body burn fat too.

In a recent study where cayenne pepper- infused water was consumed by people showed increased metabolic activity in their bodies, 30 minutes after their meal.

The study conducted in 2014 also suggested that people who consumed red pepper with their meals had fewer cravings and the compounds present in the red pepper suppressed appetite as well. In another study, people who ate 1 gram of red cayenne pepper only burned 10 more calories over four and a half hours, compared to those who didn’t eat any cayenne pepper

People with faster metabolic activity see a faster conversion of food into energy in their bodies.

Nutritionists, as well as dieticians, recommend consuming cayenne pepper in moderate quantity if you are struggling to lose fat.  The active ingredients responsible for this fat-burning effect are Capsaicin and Dihydrocapsiate. The heat in Capsaicin promotes thermogenesis, a process that converts fat into heat and the overall result is weight loss.

Cayenne pepper can be consumed by infusing it in your regular drinking water or you can add it to your subji, salad, sandwich etc

Consuming cayenne pepper, however, does not serve as an alternative to a healthy diet and habit of exercising.  Including cayenne pepper in your diet can help you lose weight but make sure you consult a dietitian before doing so.

One tablespoon (5 grams) of cayenne pepper contains the following (1):

• Calories: 17
• Fat: 1 gram
• Carbs: 3 grams
• Fiber: 1.4 grams
• Protein: 0.6 grams
• Vitamin A: 44% of the RDI
• Vitamin E: 8% of the RDI
• Vitamin C: 7% of the RDI
• Vitamin B6: 6% of the RDI
• Vitamin K: 5% of the RDI
• Manganese: 5% of the RDI
• Potassium: 3% of the RDI
• Riboflavin: 3% of the RDI