New Evidence That Chili Pepper Ingredient Fights Fat
Scientists are reporting new evidence that capsaicin, the stuff that gives chili peppers their kick, may cause weight loss and fight fat buildup by triggering certain beneficial protein changes in the body. Their study, which could lead to new treatments for obesity, appears in American Chemical Society' monthly Journal of Proteome Research.
Laboratory studies have hinted that capsaicin may help fight obesity by decreasing calorie intake, shrinking fat tissue, and lowering fat levels in the blood.
Nobody, however, knows exactly how capsaicin might trigger such beneficial effects.
The capsaicin-treated rats lost 8 percent of their body weight and showed changes in levels of at least 20 key proteins found in fat. The altered proteins work to break down fats.
"These changes provide valuable new molecular insights into the mechanism of the antiobesity effects of capsaicin," the scientists say.
RED CHILI SAUCE #1 RECIPE
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup Chimayó chili powder (hot or mild)
- 3 Cloves of garlic crushed and peeled
- 1 small vidalia onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried cumin
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Salt to taste.
Directions:
- Boil 2 cups of water and cool for 3 minutes.
- Stir in Chimayó chili powder with a fork and form a thin paste - let sit for 30 minutes.
- Combine chili paste, garlic, onion and sugar and blend until smooth. Thin with more water if sauce is too thick.
- strain sauce into large sauce pan heat over a medium flame and add cumin, and season with salt to taste.
- simmer for 10 minutes
Source: The Rogue Gourmet