Are chilies the new super food? Study finds the pepper can help with weight loss

A new health study found that chilies can help shed pounds. According to The Daily Mail, adding some fiery chilies to food can help stop overeating -which leads to obesity- by triggering a receptor in the stomach. Further research will be conducted to present a more palatable therapy for the general public against obesity.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Australian researchers discovered that chilies can help stretch the stomach, making us feel full and stop further indulgence in food by tapping unto a receptor called potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel protein. Capsaicin is the compound responsible for the release of the full-feeling signals, which gives of the chili heat but unfortunately can cause discomfort.

"The stomach stretches when it is full, which activates nerves in the stomach to tell the body that it has had enough food. We found that this activation is regulated through hot chili pepper or TRPV1 receptors. It is known from previous studies that capsaicin, found in hot chilies, reduces food intake in humans," explained one of the researchers at the University of Adelaide, Professor Amanda Page.

The study supports previous work, linking the receptor into stopping obesity due to a high-fat diet. Professor Page added that consuming foods high in fat dampens the TRPV1 receptors, delaying the stomach stretching response and the full-feeling sensation, leading people to eat more food than recommended and can cause obesity.

"The next stage of research will involve investigation of the mechanisms behind TRPV1 receptor activation with the aim of developing a more palatable therapy. We will also do further work to determine why a high-fat diet desensitizes TRPV1 receptors and investigate if we can reverse the damage," said Dr. Stephen Kentish of the University of Adelaide's School of Medicine.

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