Eating healthy food can sometimes get boring, but hot sauces can transform bland dishes into something mouthwateringly great. However, it’s important to consider whether hot sauce is good for weight loss and if people can still enjoy this condiment while trying to get skinnier.
Hot sauce lovers might wonder if they need to give up their favorite flavor enhancer during their weight loss journey or if they can keep the spice alive.
Can I Use Hot Sauce to Lose Weight?
You might wonder if you can use hot sauce to lose weight. The good news for hot sauce lovers is that the answer is yes.
Hot sauce can be used while dieting because it can actually help people with their weight loss journey. In fact, hot sauce increases metabolism, burns fat, reduces appetite, fights inflammation, and does so much more.
Weight Loss Benefits of Hot Sauce
Hot sauce is effective for weight loss and is more than just a trending diet, as it aids in weight loss through various mechanisms.
1 – It increases metabolism
Spicy foods have an ingredient called “capsaicin”, which is believed to contribute to weight loss by increasing metabolism and reducing hunger.
Since hot sauce is a low-calorie condiment, it can replace higher-calorie options. For example, add a few drops of hot sauce to popcorn instead of melted butter for a tasty alternative.
Bonus tip: Replace ranch dressing with hot sauce for a whole month and make it part of your 30-day weight loss challenge.
2 – It stimulates the fat burning process
Studies by the University of Wyoming found that capsaicin can help prevent weight gain by burning brown fat.
To understand this better, it’s essential to know the different types of fat in the human body. White fat cells store energy, while brown fat cells burn stored fat. Consequently, capsaicin can turn white fat cells into fat-burning brown ones.
3 – It reduces appetite
Capsaicin has been proven to suppress appetite and reduce the constant feeling of hunger.1
Best Types of Hot Sauce for Weight Loss
If hot sauce is beneficial for weight loss, it’s important to know which types are the best for this purpose.
Most hot sauces are made of chili pepper and vinegar, as one teaspoon of red hot sauce contains only 6 calories.
But, that doesn’t mean that all hot sauces are created equal; watch out for sauces that contain high sugar or salt in them.
Below are the top healthiest brands of hot sauce:
- Tapatio
- Cholula
- Sriracha
- Tabasco
- Louisiana
- Valentina
- Franks RedHot
Moreover, most types of salsa are also beneficial for those who are dieting. However, it’s good to note that “more is less”; adding too much hot sauce or salsa to food might irritate the stomach, intestines, and mouth.2
Other Health Benefits of Hot Sauce
Hot sauce is good for weight loss, but it’s worth exploring if it offers any other health benefits.
1 – Inhibits acid production in the stomach
Consuming hot sauce can help get rid of that gut-wrenching feeling that comes along with stomach acidity. This is because capsaicin inhibits acid production in the stomach.3
2 – Decrease inflammation
Consider what ingredients are in your topical pain relief cream.
A potent component called “capsaicin” is what makes these creams numb the pain that comes along with arthritis or a sports injury.4
Takeaway
Hot sauce is good for weight loss and it’s not just a weight loss myth.
It has a magical ” capsaicin ” component that aids weight loss by increasing metabolism and reducing appetite.5
This tongue-torching sauce also fights inflammation and inhibits acid production in the stomach.
Spice up your life!
References
1Zheng, J., Zheng, S., Feng, Q., Zhang, Q., & Xiao, X. (2017, May 11). Dietary capsaicin and its anti-obesity potency: From mechanism to clinical implications. Bioscience reports. Retrieved February 9, 2022, from <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5426284/>
2Gervais, J. A. ; Luukinen, B.; Buhl, K.; Stone, D. Capsaicin General Fact Sheet; National Pesticide Information Center, Oregon State University Extension Services. <http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/capgen.html>
3Edwin McDonald, M. D. (2018, September 23). A hot topic: Are spicy foods healthy or dangerous? UChicago Medicine. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from <https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/health-and-wellness-articles/spicy-foods-healthy-or-dangerous>
4Topical pain relief: What is it + how does it work? Cleveland Clinic. (2021, December 17). Retrieved February 8, 2022, from <https://health.clevelandclinic.org/topical-pain-relief-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work/>
55 benefits of eating spicy food. Cleveland Clinic. (2021, November 17). Retrieved February 8, 2022, from <https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-spicy-food-good-for-you/>