Debunking myths: Can spicy foods increase our metabolic rate?

 

PETALING JAYA: Spices are Malaysians’ must-have condiment in their meals.

Our nasi lemak is incomplete without the sambal and our chicken rice would feel lonely without the chilli paste.

But besides the enjoyable kick that spices give us, it is also true that they increase our metabolic rate.

However, before anyone should ladle more chilli flakes onto their food in order to lose a few pounds, it should be said that spices increase our metabolism only by a relatively small percentage.

There have been studies that indicate that eating spicy foods can boost our metabolism, but not in the way that would aid effectively in our battle for weight loss.

Malaysian Dietitians’ Association president Professor Winnie Chee explained that a person’s total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) is composed of a few distinct components.

“The thermic effect of food (TEF), which is the energy produced from the digestion of foods, make up only 10% of the TDEE,” she said.

“The other component is movement and physical activity, which takes up around another 10-20% of our TDEE.

“The largest component, resting energy expenditure (REE), refers to the basal metabolic rate (BMR), which takes up 70% of our TDEE,” said Prof Chee, who is also Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at International Medical University.