A study that fed people lunch in a laboratory setting found that participants ate spicier food more slowly, and food intake went down as eating rate slowed.
Participants ate either beef chili or chicken tikka masala two times. The first time, the spice used was 85 to 100 percent sweet paprika. The second time, it was 100 percent hot paprika. Participants reported enjoying the food at both spice levels and did not feel any of the food was too spicy to eat. But, in each scenario, they ate the spicier meal more slowly and ended up eating 11 to 17 percent less food than they did when offered the mild meal.
Eating mindfully (slowing down and paying attention to your body’s hungry-full signals) has been shown to help with portion control. Setting down utensils between bites, chewing food a specified number of times, and eating foods that require chewing as opposed to softer foods are all tricks to slow eating. Now, bumping up the spice level of your food can be added to that list.