A new study from the United States has found that adding a touch of spice to meals may be an effective way to reduce food consumption and overall calorie intake.
According to the research team from Pennsylvania State University, consuming meals seasoned with chilli peppers and similar spices can influence how much food a person eats during each meal. The findings revealed that spicy meals naturally encourage people to eat less, thereby lowering the number of calories consumed.
“Our research suggests that people tend to eat less when they eat more slowly,” explained Paige Cunningham, who led the study. “We believe spicy foods encourage slower eating, and we conducted an experiment to test this hypothesis scientifically.”
In the study, volunteers were served meals seasoned with varying levels of chilli pepper, while researchers measured both the speed of eating and the amount of food consumed, ensuring that the overall flavour of the meals remained appealing.
The results showed that increasing spice intensity led participants to eat more slowly and consume smaller portions, which in turn reduced their calorie intake. Cunningham noted that participants tended to keep food in their mouths longer, which enhanced the feeling of fullness and satisfaction, ultimately leading to lower food consumption.
Commenting on the findings, Professor John Hayes, a nutrition science expert and co-author of the study, said the results “suggest that chilli peppers could be used as a simple and natural strategy to help curb overeating.”
