Here’s the thing: I’m overweight, I love to eat, and I love to eat spicy. So when I heard that capsinoids might help with weight loss, I got curious and dove into the science. I should preface by saying that I’m not a scientist, and I don’t play one on the internet, but here’s what I found in simple language.
First, I look at this paper:
It’s a legit paper that has been cited by 154 other papers.
Now you can read the actual paper itself here, but unless you’re a total geek (which I respect), you won’t enjoy the read. (I didn’t.)
If you make it through the cumbersome wording, you’ll find that the study is pretty straightforward. They took 44 people with high BMIs and monitored how their bodies reacted to capsinoids over a 4-week period. They looked at various markers like energy expenditure, fat oxidation—that’s basically the rate at which your body burns fat—and other physiological stuff.
What they found is that capsinoids do increase energy expenditure and fat oxidation. In simpler terms, taking capsinoids could potentially help you burn more calories and fat.
Now, you might be thinking, “Cool, so should I start downing hot peppers?” Well, not so fast. Capsinoids are the non-spicy cousins of capsaicin, so you don’t get the mouth-on-fire experience. They’re found in CH-19 Sweet peppers, which are a type of chili pepper that doesn’t have the usual heat.
If you’re looking to biohack your way to better fitness or weight loss, this could be an interesting avenue to explore. But remember, it’s not a magic bullet. You can’t just pop some capsinoids and expect the pounds to melt off. It should be part of a broader strategy that includes diet, exercise, and possibly other supplements or medications, especially if you have a high BMI.
Also, let’s not forget that while the findings are promising, it’s a relatively small study. More research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects and potential benefits.
So, in a nutshell: Capsinoids might help you burn more fat and calories, but focus on physical activity. Think of it as one piece in the puzzle of your overall health and fitness strategy.