The cayenne pepper is usually a moderately hot chili pepper used to flavour various dishes ranging from curries to fresh fish. Generally skinny and red coloured peppers with a curved tip, cayenne pepper is usually dried and ground to make the powdered spice. It’s also not uncommon for this spice to be mixed with others to create an all-round seasoning mix sold by supermarkets.
While we’re all probably quite familiar with the taste benefits of this ingredient, there are also some interesting health benefits to explore here, as well as associated Apple Cider Vinegar benefits when taken in combination with this superfood that you might not know about. Chief among these is its suggested ability to offer help with weight loss. But what is the truth behind this and should you be stocking up on cayenne this winter to help you burn through that unavoidable holiday weight? Let’s take a look.
A Calorie Burner
Like other spices, cayenne pepper is believed to help you burn your calories at a faster rate. Whether you’re sprinkling some seasoning into your sauces or roasting a whole pepper with your vegetable medley, the effect of this spice on your temperature is said to be the main reason for increased calorie burning.
As your temperature rises as a result of eating spicy food, it’s believed that you will be able to burn through calories at a much greater rate than usual.
A More Active Metabolism
It has also been suggested that eating spicy foods like cayenne pepper can also increase your overall metabolism.
This is essentially the speed at which your body converts food and drink into energy after you have eaten a meal and throughout the day, so a higher metabolic rate will allow you to generate energy more efficiently without storing unnecessary fats in your body.
Suppression of Hunger
Perhaps the most significant way that cayenne pepper can help you with weight loss is how it stops you from consuming too much food in the first place.
We’re not saying that it will put you off your meals, but it may well reduce your overall appetite during mealtime if you take cayenne pepper as part of your appetizer course or earlier during your meal.
This is because spicy foods like cayenne pepper are great for offering a sense of fullness and contentment during meals. Obviously if you feel like you have reached your limit early in your meal, you will be less inclined to overeat and will be able to manage the volume of food you consume much more easily.
Ways to Take Cayenne Pepper
You can add cayenne pepper to your diet in a number of ways. One of the best ways is to cook with the pepper, but this may be difficult to do each day as you will have to find a regular source of fresh ingredients. You can also buy powdered cayenne pepper and add it to your meals for a convenient alternative. Or if you want a quick solution, simply mix this in with water or smoothies.
If you aren’t a fan of the actual taste of cayenne, try adding it to dishes that are already packed with powerful flavours. For instance curries, stews or soups will be able to mask the potency of the ingredient if you need.
Combining Cayenne Pepper with Apple Cider Vinegar
Cayenne pepper has also been recommended as a great combo ingredient to be taken with Apple Cider Vinegar for weight loss. In addition to the various health benefits of an Apple Cider Vinegar diet, it is also known for suppressing hunger and can be used together with Cayenne pepper for double effect.
It has also been suggested that ACV can help you digest high-carb meals as it may improve insulin sensitivity after you consume a large volume of food that contains carbohydrates.
Whether it’s Apple Cider Vinegar pills, cayenne pepper or anything else, when sourcing your health food ingredients, make sure you purchase only from accredited retailers such as Fresh Healthcare who use organic, raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar powder.
