Using Herbs and Spices

Alison Miksch

Capsaicin, found in chili peppers, works as an appetite suppressant. A recent study from the Netherlands found that when people drank tomato juice spiked with hot pepper over a two-day period, they consumed up to 16 percent fewer calories over the next two days and felt more satisfied than when they consumed a blander version of the same juice. Capsaicin has been shown to be an effective anti-inflammatory, a potent antioxidant, and a promising cancer fighter. Last March, scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that giving mice this compound caused prostate cancer cells to self-destruct.

Sprinkle chili powder on tomato soup, macaroni and cheese, or corn on the cob, or add hot sauce to eggs and omelets.

Instead of: creamy dressing

Slim-down recipe: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder into a small tub of commercially prepared hummus. Scoop out a two-tablespoon serving and bring on the veggies.