Mixed

Dietary capsaicin supplementation prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity and chronic low-grade inflammation by modulating gut microbiota to increase butyrate-producing bacteria and decrease lipopolysaccharide-producing bacteria, thereby strengthening the gut barrier and reducing metabolic endotoxemia.

Incorporating capsaicin (found in chili peppers) into a high-fat diet can help mitigate weight gain and inflammation by improving gut health. The mechanism involves increasing beneficial bacteria that produce butyrate and reducing harmful bacteria that trigger inflammation. While this is proven in mice, it suggests that chili consumption may be a useful dietary strategy to support metabolic health, particularly when consuming higher-fat meals.