Spice It Up!

No, I'm not talking about your sex life...but, did you know that eating spicy foods burns calories AND makes you smarter? Spices are big on flavor and low in calories, with NO fat; adding some hot sauce to your morning eggs will help you to eat fewer calories and less fat later in the day; when that Tabasco sauce hits your tongue it triggers the pain receptors in your brain and releases endorphins (there they are again!!); these dull the pain and increase your mood at the same time (hmmn...it will help you know what...!). Spices make you smarter because they sweep out plaque deposits in your brain. The chemical that makes a spice hot is called capsaicin - it's actually an burning irritant that is perceived by your body as pain; the endorphins are released, circulation is increased, your body heats up, and you start to burn calories. Put that sauce on everything! It strenghtens your muscles, reduces inflammation, and lowers cholesterol too. Just remember, a little goes a long way - keep the milk handy! Melissa