Spicing up a  diet with a sprinkling of  red chilli peppers could help weight-watchers to curb their appetites. Researchers from Purdue University, in Indiana, found that capsaicin, which gives peppers their heat, can reduce hunger and increase energy expenditure, which prove out to be a surprise to the girls.

'We found that consuming red pepper can help manage appetite and burn more calories after a meal, especially for individuals who do not consume the spice regularly,' said Professor Richard Mattes.

'Dietary changes that don't require great effort to implement, like sprinkling red pepper on your meal, may be sustainable and beneficial in the long run, especially when paired with exercise and healthy eating.'

The study, published in Physiology & Behaviour, measured the effects of the spice in half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper - an amount most people could manage.Other studies have looked at consuming capsaicin via a capsule, but the latest study demonstrated that actually tasting the red pepper may optimise its effects.

Professor Mattes said the sensory experience of eating a chilli maximises the digestive process.

'That burn in your mouth is responsible for that effect,' he said.

In that way, It turns out you can get a more robust effect if you include the sensory part because the burn contributes to a rise in body temperature, energy expenditure and appetite control.