This post has been updated since it was originally published on December 13, 2021.
Eggs are one of the best breakfast options for weight loss as they are high in protein which has been known to increase satiety, minimizing overeating so it becomes easier to maintain a calorie deficit. Not only are eggs a great source of protein, but they are also loaded with healthy fats from the yolk which are another vital nutrient to include in a well balanced diet. Low in calories, in combination with certain other ingredients, eggs can function as one of the most effective meals you could include in your diet for weight loss.
However, while eggs as the base of the meal are great, there are additional ingredients you could add which may prove to optimize your breakfast to be even healthier, streamlining weight loss. A variety of nutrients can have different functions in the body, particularly for stoking fat burn and improving your metabolism so you can torch more calories at rest, and there’s one food you should be eating with your eggs each morning which does just that. According to doctors, you can boost your metabolism and lose weight with ease by combining eggs with cayenne pepper for some added spice to your meal.
Health Benefits Of Adding Cayenne Pepper To Eggs
It’s well researched that spicy foods have the ability to increase fat burn in the body, consequently torching calories for weight loss. Therefore, adding cayenne pepper to your egg may be the kick you need to lose extra weight while enjoying a nutrient dense breakfast that keeps you full and satisfied long after eating. “Adding cayenne pepper to eggs is the way to go if you're trying to lose weight. Cayenne pepper is one of the best natural ingredients out there because it can help boost metabolism and increase fat burning by up to 20%. Plus, it tastes great in eggs,” notes nutritionist and personal trainer Josh Schlottman.
Capsaicin is the primary ingredient in cayenne peppers which offers a significant boost to your metabolism, stoking fat burn for weight loss. Often found in a variety of peppers, capsaicin has also been proven to increase satiety, providing your body with that full feeling which will minimize overeating throughout the day, making it easier to maintain the essential calorie deficit for weight loss. “[Capsaicin] can also boost metabolism for up to 20 minutes after eating it,” says Schlottman. With a more efficient metabolism, your body will naturally burn more calories at rest, effectively using food as energy and limiting the calories you store as fat.
According to Dr. Amy Lee, board certified doctor in internal medicine, medical nutrition, and obesity medicine and partner of Nucific, "Chili sauce [or cayenn peppers come with an active] ingredient of capsaicin, which is known to be thermogenic. Thermogenic foods help raise the body temperature just enough to expend more energy acquire from food."
The way in which capsaicin improves your metabolism is simple, explains Schlottman, “It works by a process called thermogenesis. This increases the amount of heat your body produces which results in the burning of more calories.” Essentially, as you consume your eggs with cayenne pepper in the morning, your body is forced to burn more calories as you eat because your body temperature has risen and you’re torching through your breakfast as fuel.
Not a huge spicy food lover? Black pepper has proven to be just as effective in enhancing your metabolism. “The piperine found in black pepper is not only responsible for providing it with its distinguished flavor but also for helping consumers stop the adipogenesis process, which consists of the formation of fat cells from stem cells,” notes sports nutritionist Zaakir Kayani. In other words, black pepper will slow the creation of further fat cells in your body, limiting weight gain.
Eggs are ultimately the main player in allowing for healthy and sustained weight loss through your breakfast, but with the addition of cayenne or black pepper to your meal, you can offer your body that added metabolism boost it may need to help burn through calories and allow for visible results.
Schlottman notes that there are not many foods which you can reasonably add cayenne pepper to regularly, so take advantage of the perfect pairing with eggs to create a breakfast that is tailor made for easy weight loss. It’s important that the meals following breakfast continue on the same path of providing your body with the nutrients it needs to feel full and satisfied, but starting off each morning with eggs and cayenne pepper can make all the difference in kickstarting your weight loss journey.
