Originating from South America, cayenne peppers are used as a food, spice and medicinal remedy. Many different cultures have used both topical and internal remedies made from cayenne peppers to treat digestive and circulatory problems, as well as to relieve pain. You should talk with your doctor before taking cayenne remedies for weight loss to discuss potential health risks, side effects, proper dosage and drug interactions.
Benefits
Eating cayenne peppers or taking a cayenne oral remedy might help you lose weight. Herbalists sometimes suggest cayenne as a natural supplement to treat obesity, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Cayenne is also used in topical creams or ointments to treat pain, psoriasis, arthritis, herpes and shingles. Other potential oral uses of cayenne pepper include helping to treat headaches, bursitis, diabetes, indigestion and acid reflux, says the University of Michigan Health System. Traditionally, cayenne was also used to improve blood circulation and digestion. No conclusive medical evidence has entirely proven that cayenne peppers are effective in treating any of these conditions, so you should consult your doctor before taking cayenne or its active chemical, capsaicin.
Function
The major active substance in cayenne peppers is called capsaicin, which gives the peppers their spicy-hot flavor and provides the potential medicinal benefits. The capsaicin in cayenne peppers may help to suppress hunger, thereby reducing food intake and promoting weight loss, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Ingesting cayenne peppers or capsaicin-based remedies may also increase heat production in your body, temporarily increasing the burning of calories, adds the University of Maryland Medical Center. These proposed actions of capsaicin and cayenne are based on preliminary research, however.
Dosage
To promote weight loss, try 1/3 to 1 milliliter of cayenne tincture three times daily or 833 mg of cayenne powder capsules three times per day prior to meals, says the University of Michigan Health System. You may steep ½ to 1 tsp. of cayenne powder in 1 cup of boiling water for 10 minutes and take 1 teaspoon of the infusion three or four times daily mixed with more water. You should talk with your health care provider about proper dosage before taking cayenne, however.
Medical Evidence
Several animal and human medical studies have investigated capsaicin's effects on calorie expenditure and blood sugar regulation, notes UMMC. For example, a 1999 double-blind clinical trial of healthy men and women that was published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that ingesting 10 grams of cayenne pepper with each meal helped to somewhat reduce appetite, according to the University of Michigan Health System. A 1998 clinical trial of Japanese women published in the same medical journal found that taking cayenne boosted metabolism of fats when it was added to high-carb, high-fat meals.
Dangers
The most common side effects that you might experience when taking cayenne remedies orally include gastrointestinal irritation and sweating, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. In rare cases, gastroenteritis and kidney or liver damage were reported. You could also experience burning in your mouth and throat after taking cayenne tinctures. If you have acid reflux, stomach ulcers or other gastrointestinal ailments, you should talk with your doctor before ingesting cayenne remedies. Also, you may have an allergic reaction to cayenne peppers if you're allergic to avocados, chestnuts, latex, bananas or kiwi fruit. Capsaicin may intensify the effects of certain medications such as sedatives, antihypertensives, theophylline, blood-thinners and acetaminophen.
Member Comments