Effect snapshot
Intervention Add moderate capsaicin (e.g. chili) to one meal per day
Outcome Calories consumed at next meal
Effect 5–12 percent relative decrease
Confidence study
Context Small controlled feeding studies, capsaicin-tolerant adults, 2018–2024

Sources

What changes

Capsaicin in meals is commonly linked to a 5–12% relative reduction in calories at the following meal in lab studies.

When this tends to work

  • Conditions similar to: Small controlled feeding studies, capsaicin-tolerant adults, 2018–2024
  • You can measure Calories consumed at next meal reliably
  • The intervention is implemented consistently, not half-measured

When to be careful

  • Your audience or product differs materially from the cited context
  • Compliance costs or second-order effects outweigh the lift
  • Evidence label is study—treat wide ranges as planning bands, not promises

Practical takeaway

Use the cited range for prioritization and test design. Verify against your own data before scaling.