Capsicum and fat burning are often mentioned in the same sentence. This is why supplement manufacturers often include it their capsules – especially for weight loss.
Capsicum peppers have been sought after for their culinary value for thousands of years.
Today, capsicum is equally valued as a weight loss provider and is often deemed powerful enough to use as a standalone ingredient in many commercial supplements.
Capsicum and fat burning are often mentioned in the same sentence. It is also classed as a thermic food – a food that increase the rate in which the body burns calories.
But is capsicum really the hot property the supplement manufacturers claim it is?
Does it fire up the metabolism and turn the body into a “24 hour fat burning machine” and “melt away the pounds”?
Some of the hype may be a little hard to live up to, but the simple truth of the matter is capsicum really is a powerful ingredient that can deliver good results.
In this article we will take a closer look at how capsicum can assist weight loss and the kind of results that dieters can realistically expect.
Capsicum is a main ingredient of the commercially available supplement Capsimax.
Capsimax is concentrated natural capsicum extract that is found in many of todays highly effective diet supplements
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How does Capsicum Assist Weight Loss?
Capsicum gets its spicy taste and distinctive aroma from a compound called capsaicin and several similar components that are often collectively referred to as capsaicinoids.
These capsaicinoids, and capsaicin in particular, are responsible for capsicum’s weight loss-providing abilities.
Anyone who has enjoyed a spicy curry and then broke out in a sweat may have experienced the metabolism boosting powers of capsaicinoids without even realizing it.
When a sufficient amount of capsaicinoids are ingested and get to work their “thermogenic” nature causes a slight rise in body temperature.
This boosts the metabolism and improves the body’s calorie burning capabilities, enabling the body to burn more calories even when at rest.
Once set in motion, the thermogenic powers of capsicum also enable the digestive system to function more efficiently.
It also triggers the release of extra adrenalin, thereby providing an energy boost, which then further stimulates the metabolism to provide further weight loss benefits.
Capsicum’s ability to trigger the release of energy-providing adrenalin also explains why the ingredient is such a common inclusion in sports supplements and pre-workout formulations.
- Other Capsicum-Related Benefits
- Stabilization of blood sugar levels
- Appetite suppression
- Improved circulation
- Lowering LDL cholesterol levels
- Lowering blood pressure
Capsicum is more often associated with its ability to burn fat but its success as an appetite suppressing food should not be under estimated.
Scientific Evidence of Capsicum and Fat Burning
The weight loss-enhancing powers of capsicum have been put under the microscope in numerous studies, a great many of which are highly supportive of the claims made for the ingredients abilities.
In 2013, PLoS One published the results of a study in which volunteers received 2.6mg of capsaicinoids every 36 hours.
This continued for a total of 144 hours and the resultant data revealed the volunteers who had received capsaicinoids had benefited from improved fat oxidation after meals.
The data also suggested the supplement had prevented the metabolism for slowing down in the way that is normally consistent with a calorie-controlled diet.
The following year Appetite published a study that delved into the merits of capsaicinoids as calorie consumption regulators.
The researchers discovered taking just 2.5mg of capsaicinoids caused a reduction in calorie consumption levels during meals.
Capsicum Tolerance Issues
Capsicum has been cultivated as a food for a long time and is tolerated well by the vast majority of people.
It is possible that some capsicum-providing products may be poorly tolerated by people with unusually sensitive stomachs.
Anyone who has any doubts about the suitability of any particular dieting product is advised to seek the advice of a doctor before supplementation is commenced.
Maximizing Results of Capsicum
Although capsicum can boost the metabolism and trigger the fat burning process, the results obtained can be vastly improved by combining the use of a good capsicum-providing product with a low-calorie diet and regular exercise.
Weight loss and weight gain are both numbers games.
If the amount of food eaten each day provides more calories than the body needs the excess calories will be stored as fat.
If a calorie deficit occurs body fat will be oxidized and used to supply the body with energy.
The fact that the capsaicinoids in capsicum can increase calorie expenditure makes it more likely the body will run short of calories and initiate fat burning.
Upping the level of exercise obtained, when coupled with a healthy diet, can ensure the body needs to burn even more of its fat.
Will supplements containing capsicum turn the body into that mythical “fat burning machine” supplement manufacturers are so fond of talking about?
Probably not, but bearing in mind the various processes involved the pounds could certainly be said to “melt away” and people who are seriously committed to their weight loss regimens can and do slim-down very well in short amounts of time.