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Cutting back on calories can often mean eating tasteless foods – but your diet doesn’t have to lack flavor to work!
In fact, adding condiments to your meals can be a great way to enhance flavor AND add health benefits. While some condiments contain unhealthy ingredients like artificial additives and high salt content, others are low in sugar and pack a nutritious punch.
When it comes to condiments, sriracha is red hot. We’re talking literally. That’s because capsaicin, the substance in chili peppers responsible for its spicy kick, is known to increase feelings of fullness. In a 2014 study, researchers found that people who tried a capsaicin supplement with meals ate less later on and reported feeling more satiated, as compared to their counterparts who didn’t take the supplement. Another study conducted at Catalytic Longevity and the Mid America Heart Institute at St. Luke’s Hospital revealed that capsaicin can actually boost metabolism, helping your body to burn calories even faster.
If you’re looking to kickstart metabolic rate, try sprinkling a bit of sriracha over your favorite foods. Remember, weight loss is most effective when it combines healthy eating with exercise. David Heber, MD, PhD, founding director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition adds that “as a way to burn calories, [sriracha] is not a primary strategy but an add-on. I’d put it in the same category as green tea and caffeine.”
That said, spice up your life with some sriracha-themed snack inspo below!
You may have been told to “eat your veggies” since you were little – and with good reason! Vegetables are packed with vitamins, minerals and nutrients, but if you find yourself struggling to consume the recommended 3-5 servings a day, add a drizzle of sriracha. It’ll help shrink your waistline, plus get rid of pesky stomach fat.
Guacamole is full of healthy monosaturated fats – which studies indicate can decrease appetite by as much as 40% – so why not capitalize on those health benefits by adding a dash of sriracha? It’s sure be a crowd pleaser and a weight loss slam dunk.
Tofu contains several anti-inflammatory, antioxidant phyto-chemicals, making it a great addition to an anti-inflammatory diet. With its well balanced amino acid profile, it’s also a good protein source – but on its own, it lacks flavor. Try dousing it in sriracha, ginger, peanut butter and garlic for a taste that’s anything but bland! Even better, it’ll fire up your metabolism, while keeping you fuller for longer.
What are some of your favorite sriracha snacks? Let us know in the comments below!
