#Spice

A simple culinary cue could quietly reshape how much we eat: a little extra spice at the table may help people reach for fewer calories without fancy diets or willpower battles. The latest work from Penn State’s Sensory Evaluation Center explored how increasing oral burn from chili peppers and similar ingredients influences how much people eat during a single meal. In short, stronger spicy sensations appeared to nudge diners toward smaller portions or slower consumption, translating into lower calorie intake in the meal setting. The finding is presented as a straightforward, potentially scalable approach that could complement broader public health efforts to curb rising obesity and related diseases.