If you're trying to lose weight, you may want to add chilli to your diet.
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New research from the University of Adelaide shows a link between chillies and the feeling of fullness in a high-fat diet.
Lead author Amanda Page said that while a high fat diet may impair the receptors in the stomach which signals when it's full, chillies may trigger the receptors.
"The stomach stretches when it's full, which activates news in the stomach to tell the body that is has had enough food," Professor Page said.
"We found that this activation is regulated through hot chilli pepper or TRPV1 receptors."
Previous studies have found that capsaicin, found in hot chillies, reduces food intake.
"What we've discovered is that deletion of TRPV1 receptors dampens the response of gastric news to stretch - resulting in a delayed feeling of fullness and consumption of more food," Professor Page said.
"Therefore part of the effect of capsaicin on food intake may be mediated via the stomach."
The next stage of research will investigate the mechanisms behind TRPV1 receptor activate with the aim of developing new therapies.
