Cayenne Description

Cayenne, (Capsicum annuum or frutescens or red pepper) is a pepper that can be eaten raw or cooked but it is commonly dried, ground, and then used as a spice or for medicinal purposes, especially in Indian and Asian cultures. Often used to improve circulation or digestive problems it is also used for pain relief. Research has found that the effective ingredient in Cayenne pepper is capsaicin . Cayenne also has Vitamins A and C and some antioxidant properties (Source:http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/cayenne-000230.htm).

Cayenne can be taken in powder or capsule form although powder is supposed to be more effective and can be stirred in to foods or juices.

Clinical Research

As with most herbal supplements, more research still needs to be done to determine if cayenne helps with weight loss (Source:http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/cayenne-000230.htm). One clinical experiment found that energy expenditure in men increased immediately after eating a meal that included 10 grams of red pepper (Source: Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 1995, 41(6), 647-656). An experiment in women found similar results (Source: British Journal of Nutrition, 1998, 80(6), 503-510).

Another study has shown that cayenne in a meal may help to decrease energy and fat intake if the level of cayenne is at the maximum tolerable dose (Source: British Journal of Nutrition, 2004, 91(6), 991-995). In this study, the dosages were only described as moderate or strong; exact amounts were not given. Also, participants were not randomly selected which may have affected results.

According to a study cited in the Medical Journal of Australia, cayenne (or capsaicin) powder when added to an entree may reduce food intake but cayenne as a supplement does not have evidence to support its effectiveness (Source: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/171_11_061299/egger/egger.html#refbody15). A standard dose in experiments that have shown positive results is 10 grams.

Conclusion

According to evidence, adding cayenne pepper to a diet may help with weight loss by lowering food intake and increasing the body’s short term energy use. Exact dose and type of ingestion needed to achieve results still requires more research so accept claims of diet pills cautiously.