Does Spicy Food Speed Up Metabolism?

Metabolism, or the process of the body breaking down food into its caloric energy, is linked to weight gain and loss. The more quickly your body converts food into energy, the less time there is for that food to remain in the body for storage. In an effort to lose weight, many dieters search for "super" or "power" foods that speed up metabolism, and spicy foods are one option for kick-starting metabolism.

Capsaicin

• According to a 2006 New York Times article, spicy foods, like red pepper, contain capsaicin. The compound creates "the largest bump in heat generation, which helps burn more calories immediately after a meal." According to Fit Day, good sources of capsaicin include jalapenos, habaneros, cayenne, and most other chili peppers. Black pepper and ginger can also speed up metabolism a bit, without quite the punch of the other choices.

Effects

• Dieters should keep in mind that the increase to metabolism is only slight, and that it occurs immediately after food consumption. Anahad O'Connor, of the New York Times, writes, "Generally, studies have shown that on average, a meal containing a spicy dish, like a bowl of chili, can temporarily increase metabolism by about 8 percent over a person's normal rate, an amount considered fairly negligible." Though the increase is small, spicy foods can also be helpful for losing weight as they tend to make your feel fuller.

Other Metabolism Boosters

• Drinking green tea with breakfast every morning is another way to boost metabolism. Not only does eating breakfast start your metabolism for the day, but green tea also stimulates metabolism over a longer period of time than other hot beverages. Also drink lots of water and get sufficient rest.