Capsaicin

Phytochemical

Compound in chili peppers that boosts brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation

Food Sources

Foods that contain Capsaicin.

Chili Peppers
Chili peppers are the dietary source of capsaicin
Source: How Not to Age
Cayenne Pepper
Capsaicin from cayenne/red pepper depletes substance P pain neurotransmitter
Source: How Not to Die
Hot Peppers
capsaicin, the chemical that is found in hot peppers
Source: How We Age
Chile Peppers
Source: Young Forever

Health conditions that Capsaicin may influence, based on research.

Androgenetic Alopecia
Harada 2007: capsaicin combined with isoflavone promoted hair growth in mice and humans with alopecia
Source: How Not to Age
Cluster Headachesnasal application
Repeated nasal applications of capsaicin showed preventative effect on cluster headaches (Fusco et al. 1994)
Source: How Not to Die
Irritable bowel syndrome
Red pepper reduced symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in a preliminary study (Bortolotti & Porta 2011)
Source: How Not to Die
Dyspepsia
Red pepper improved functional dyspepsia symptoms (Bortolotti et al. 2002, NEJM)
Source: How Not to Die

Obesity
Mice with TRPV1 knocked out are less susceptible to diet-induced obesity caused by a high-fat diet and are leaner owing to higher energy expenditure. So eat those hot peppers to live longer!
Source: How We Age
Aging
TRPV1 pain receptors (activated by capsaicin) regulate longevity and metabolism by neuropeptide signaling (Riera et al. 2014)
Source: How We Age

Chronic inflammation (inflammaging)
TRPV1-knockout mice show lower rates of inflammation, improved glucose tolerance, and better energy expenditure
Source: How We Age

How Capsaicin works at a cellular level.

PromotesActivates Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT)
Chili pepper compounds boost BAT activation, tested up through age 64 | Capsinoid intake increased brown adipose tissue vascular density and resting energy expenditure in middle-aged adults
PromotesHormesis
Capsaicin as example of dietary hormetic compound
PromotesDepletes pain neurotransmitter (substance P)
Nasal capsaicin applications have a preventative effect on cluster headaches by depleting substance P (Fusco et al. 1994)
PromotesActivates pain receptors that improve metabolism and reduce inflammation
The TRPV1 pain receptor senses noxious stimuli, including pain sensation from capsaicin; TRPV1-knockout mice are leaner owing to higher energy expenditure
PromotesmTOR Suppression
Capsaicin (chili pepper) targets mTOR and PI3K pathways as a potential geroprotector
PromotesAMPK activation