Clinical trials say that red bell peppers significantly boost the BMR or the basal metabolic rate and step up the burning of fat for energy.
A clinical study conducted on a group of volunteers helped assess the wonderful weight loss properties of the bell pepper (or capsicum). The volunteers were divided into groups and asked to consume a high-carbohydrate meal or a high-carbohydrate meal with 10 grams of bell pepper, or a high-fat meal or a high-fat meal with 10 grams of red bell pepper. The outcome was that when bell peppers were added to the meal, the burning of fat was notably greater.
Nutritional Highlights of Red Bell Peppers: Their Role in Weight Loss
Red bell peppers are actually green bell peppers that have been allowed to ripen on the vine, thus they are a lot sweeter. They are loaded with vitamin C, which perks up immunity and fights infections efficiently, while the carotenes in them are potent free radical scavengers.
Nutritionists state that adding bell peppers to the daily diet, is a natural, speedy and efficient way of burning fat and battling the bulge. Bell peppers increase fat metabolism, rev up the body’s metabolic rate and help burn the stored fat effectively.
Other Benefits of Red Bell Pepper
The amazing health benefits of the red pepper are due to the compound capsaicin. This compound is an effective pain reliever, digestive, carminative, anti-ulcer agent and a heart tonic.
- Bell peppers support gastrointestinal health: Peppers are very effective in the treatment of dyspepsia. The vegetable ameliorates symptoms of indigestion, acidity, nausea, heartburn, bloating and stomach pain. What’s more, studies state that the red bell pepper protects the stomach from ASPIRIN®-induced injury (which could cause peptic ulcers in the long run.)
- Bell peppers fight respiratory tract infections: Capsaicin present in peppers has a stimulating effect on the mucus lining of the nose, sinuses and the entire respiratory tract. Capsaicin encourages the flow of blood through the mucus membranes and helps make the mucus secretion thinner. It treats sinusitis, bronchial asthma and common colds successfully.
- Bell peppers prevent atherosclerosis: Red pepper exerts a beneficial effect on the cardio-vascular system. Capsicum decreases the probability of developing atherosclerosis by reducing and monitoring the serum cholesterol level and the serum triglyceride level. It prevents platelet build up, by exerting a fibrinolytic effect, i.e., it checks the formation of blood clots, which is a potential cause for the occurrence of heart attack, stroke and pulmonary embolism.
Thus, the bell pepper is a powerhouse of nutrients and supplies the body with innumerable health benefits. And the bottom line is, adding bell peppers to the diet is a safe, quick, natural and vastly successful way of burning fat and shedding unwanted and unsightly weight.
Reference :
Dig Dis Sci, Gonzalez, R., R. Dunkel, B. Koletzko, et al, Effects of Capsaicin-Containing red pepper Sauce Suspension on Upper Gastrointestinal Motility in Healthy Volunteers, 1998
Shweta Shah - A practicing homeopath using aromatherapy, yoga, acupressure and diet in patient management
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