How does red pepper reduce appetite?

Adding red peppers to your egg white omelet is a great idea to help keep your weight down (or to help lose weight). Red pepper, when eaten early in the day, decreases food intake later in the day. Some credit the ingredient capsaicin for being the catalyst for decreasing overall calorie intake and for increasing metabolism.

It also appears to work by inhibiting sensory information from the intestines from reaching the brain—which is particularly effective in reducing appetite in low-fat diets. Capsaicin works by killing—or at least stunning—the messages that you're hungry.

There is some preliminary research that capsaicin, the compound that provides both fresh and dried chilies with their fiery kick, may help suppress hunger. A lot more research is needed in this area, however, before these findings can be confirmed and any conclusions can be drawn.