Posted July 24, 2011
Eat more, weigh less? Two new studies indicate that certain foods can aid weight loss because they’re natural appetite suppressants. That’s the word from Tara Parker-Pope in The New York Times.
One study tested the effect of just half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper on a group of 25 diners. According to the Times: ‘ “We found that when individuals consumed the red pepper in the soup rather than the supplement, they burned more calories,” said Mary-Jon Ludy, who conducted the research as a student at Purdue and will join the faculty of Bowling Green State University.”‘ The effects, the researchers cautioned, were real but modest.
More encouraging was another study, suggesting that adding pureed vegetables to recipes, a la Jessica Seinfeld, helped people lose weight. The goal, said a researcher, was not to hide the vegetables but to bulk up the dish without adding fat and calories. One recipe used in the study was macaroni and cheese made with skim milk and pureed cauliflower and summer squash. “We had a huge effect on energy intake,” said one researcher. “We’re adding cups of veggies to recipes and people don’t even notice.”
Copyright © 2011, The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.
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