Trying to lose weight? It's all a game of numbers. That is, calories in versus calories out. For as complicated as we sometimes try to make it, burning fat is all about creating a caloric deficit — taking in less than your body needs for energy — thus causing it to dip into its fat stores in order to make up the difference.
A dietary supplement gaining more and more popularity is Capsaicin, which is the spicy part of a pepper. Studies indicate that when used as a supplement, Capsaicin can boost the metabolism, affecting the "calories out" part of your body's energy equation. Interestingly enough, according to WebMD, there are some other supplemental benefits of Capsaicin (antioxidant, may help prevent heart disease, etc.), but that is beyond the scope of our study. Also, it is important to remember to discuss all supplements and exercise programs with your health care provider before beginning a weight loss regimen.