Chillies could be a magic ingredient in the fight against flab.
Chilli is already thought to speed up metabolism①， aiding weight loss. The effect occurred at levels of chilli that would be found in the stomach of someone who ate one or two curries a day.
Capsaicin②， the compound which gives the peppers their zing， makes fat cells self-destruct. Capsaicin has many benefits on the health.
Capsaicin can cause prostate③ and pancreatic cancer cells to kill themselves. It also helps prevent and heal stomach ulcers. This is because it blocks acid production， stimulates alkali and improves blood flow in stomach tissue.
Gastric④ ulcers are three times less common in countries where large numbers of chillies are eaten.
In addition to all this， chillies have anti-inflammatory properties and scientists hope to use capsaicin to create a pill to treat swelling in arthritis sufferers.
Ancient cultures used the spice as an antiseptic and to treat cholera and bronchitis⑤. It is thought the burning sensation of the chilli pepper is an evolutionary ploy to stop mammals eating them.
① metabolismn. 新陈代谢
② capsaicinn. 辣椒素；辣椒碱
③ prostaten.adj. 【解】前列腺(的)
④ gastricadj. 胃的
⑤ bronchitisn. 【医】支气管炎
辣椒具有减肥奇效
红辣椒对于消除体内脂肪具有神奇功效。
红辣椒可以加快新陈代谢，对减肥有一定好处。每天吃一至两份含有红辣椒的咖喱菜才可起到这一作用。
使辣椒味道刺激的辣椒素可以使脂肪细胞“自我毁灭”。辣椒素对健康有很多益处。
辣椒素可以使前列腺癌和胰腺癌的癌细胞自我毁灭，还能够预防和治疗胃溃疡。这主要是因为辣椒素能够抑制体内酸性物质的产生、促进碱性物质的分泌、并能加快胃部组织的血液循环。
大量食用辣椒的国家胃溃疡的发病率要低三倍。
此外，红辣椒中含有消炎物质，科学家们希望能利用辣椒素来研发一种可以治疗关节炎患者关节红肿的药物。
在古代，辣椒还被用作防腐剂、治疗霍乱和支气管炎。有人认为，辣椒味道刺激，这可能是辣椒保护自己不被哺乳动物吃掉的一种“进化”的策略。
