Spice thangs UP

Does your metabolism need a kickstart?

Spicy is the way to go.........

On top of increasing your water intake, getting your cardio, sleep & healthy snacking in between meals, a mouth full o'fire could do the trick.

According to Penn State, eating foods spiced with hot sauce can increase your body's metabolic rate by up to 20 percent. This increase in your body's metabolism can last for as many as 30 minutes, making spicy meals a viable option for temporarily speeding up your metabolism. Black pepper and ginger have similar effects.

A tablespoon of chopped red or green chili pepper will get the job done. The effect is likely temporary, but if you eat spicy foods often, the benefits may add up. For a quick boost, spice up pasta dishes, chili, and stews with red-pepper flakes. Add hot sauces such as Tapatio, Tabasco, hot mustards, even wasabi, salsas or my personal favorite ALL SPICE CAFE.

Hot foods activate pain receptors in the mouth, which cause the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals," says Anne Kulze, M.D

Capsaicin in Hot Peppers

A chemical called capsaicin is the key player responsible for the metabolic-speeding effects of certain hot sauces. Interestingly, capsaicin is often also used as the active ingredient in certain ointments for aching muscles due to the "heat" it produces. Although hot sauces often contain many other, non-spicy ingredients such as vinegar, salt and seasonings, it is the capsaicin content of the "active ingredients" in hot sauce--spicy peppers--that causes a temporary increase in body temperature and metabolism.

Canadian researchers looked at a group of adult men and found that those who were served hot sauce with appetizers before a meal went on to consume on average about 200 fewer calories at lunch and in later meals than their peers who did not have anything with capsaicin. The researchers suggested that capsaicin may work as an appetite suppressant.

WOULD YOU NEED ANY MORE REASONS TO HEAT THINGS UP?

FOR MORE IDEAS ON A META-BOOST CHECK OUT SOME OF DR OZ'S THOUGHTS