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Metabolic effects of spices, teas, and caffeine.

Westerterp-Plantenga M, Diepvens K, Joosen AM, Bérubé-Parent S, Tremblay A

Department of Human Biology, Nutrim, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. m.westerterp@hb.unimaas.nl

Consumption of spiced foods or herbal drinks leads to greater thermogenesis and in some cases to greater satiety. In this regard, capsaicin, black pepper, ginger, mixed spices, green tea, black tea and caffeine are relevant examples. These functional ingredients have the potential to produce significant effects on metabolic targets such as satiety, thermogenesis, and fat oxidation. A significant clinical outcome sometimes may appear straightforwardly but also depends too strongly on full compliance of subjects. Nevertheless, thermogenic ingredients may be considered as functional agents that could help in preventing a positive energy balance and obesity.

Published 7 August 2006 in Physiol Behav, 89(1): 85-91.
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