Capsaicin is the natural chemical in hot peppers such as cayenne
peppers. Several studies confirm that it can enhance fat burning
by raising metabolic rate and reducing hunger and food intake. A
new study from Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana)
confirms this, even in people who are not overweight. The
researchers gave subjects a meal containing about ½ teaspoon of
red pepper or a meal with no added red pepper. The investigators
reported in a 2011 issue of Physiology & Behavior that when the
subjects ate the meal with red pepper, not only did they
experience a boost in the number of calories burned just sitting
but they burned more calories from fat and also experienced less
hunger than when they ate the meal without added red pepper. So
consider adding ½ teaspoon of red pepper, chili pepper or
cayenne pepper to your meals for a kick in the taste buds and a
kick in the fat cells.