Hot chilli could be the key to losing weight

Eating hot chillies could be the key to helping people to lose weight - and preventing obesity in the first place, scientists believe.

Researchers from Adelaide University found that chili activates nerves in the stomach which send signals to the brain telling it the stomach is full.

Previous studies have shown that capsaicin, a chemical found in hot peppers, can reduce food intake.

Researcher Dr Stephen Kentish said, ‘What we have studied and identified is that if we get rid of this channel, and make these nerves unable to respond to capsaicin, the mice in the study, actually consumed more food, which suggests that this is a mechanism that is potentially vital in controlling how much food we eat.’

‘'The aim is to see how feasible this is as a potential treatment not just for obesity itself but maybe also in the prevention of gaining weight.

'If they could take something which makes them feel fuller sooner that would of course go a long way to preventing people from reaching an obese position.'

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