Hot foods like chili peppers have been shown to help us eat less, and scientist have just uncovered a big clue as to how. Apparently capsaicin, the compound in hot peppers that gives them their spicy kick, can activate “stretch receptors” in the lining of our stomachs that send signals to the hunger-quieting parts of our brains. So in addition to adding that hot zip to your dishes, hot peppers and hot sauces may protect your waist line from getting zapped from eating too much. But be careful when it comes to indulging on fatty foods, the same researchers found that eating a high fat diet leading to weight gain can disrupt these receptors thus impeding the ability to feel full. (PLOS ONE, 2015; 10 (8): e0135892 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135892)