Research

Hormonal

Ingestion of red pepper (capsaicin) significantly decreases subsequent appetite, protein, and fat intake in Japanese females, and reduces cumulative energy and carbohydrate intake in Caucasian males.

Adding a moderate amount of red pepper (approx. 6-10g) to your meal, particularly as an appetizer or mixed into a high-carb/high-fat breakfast, can help you naturally eat less protein, fat, and total calories at your next meal. This effect appears linked to increased sympathetic nervous system activity. It is safe and well-tolerated in the short term, offering a simple dietary lever to reduce subsequent intake without feeling deprived.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
These results indicate that the ingestion of red pepper decreases appetite and subsequent protein and fat intakes in Japanese females and energy intake in Caucasian males.
Mayumi Yoshioka et al. · British Journal Of Nutrition · 1999

Why this rating

Small sample sizes (n=13, n=10) and short-term acute measurements limit generalizability.

Source

Effects of red pepper on appetite and energy intake

Mayumi Yoshioka et al. · British Journal Of Nutrition · 1999

DOI 10.1017/s0007114599001269

crossover · n=23Cited 221×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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