Adding some heat to your main meals with chilli peppers and other spicy ingredients can help you shift your spare tyre thanks to the fat-burning properties of capsaicin, the compound responsible for giving these foods their fiery kick. Research published in the American Chemical Society journal found that capsaicin helps fight rising body-fat levels by decreasing total calorie intake, shrinking fat tissue, and lowering fat levels in the blood. Try increasing your intake of capsaicin-rich food by adding chillis to scrambled eggs for breakfast and to salads at lunchtime – and try these Mexican-inspired fajitas for dinner, which also contain chicken, avocado and veg to give you the high-quality protein and fats needed to build muscle and strip away your belly.
EAT THIS CHICKEN FAJITA
This classic Mexican fajita provides lots of protein in a portable package that can be eaten hot or cold, making it a highly convenient muscle-building meal or post-gym snack. The spicy recipe also adds a whack of calorie-burning capsaicin to help you burn fat too.
INGREDIENTS
1tbsp olive oil / 2 skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips / 1 red onion, sliced / 1 red pepper or 1 red chilli, sliced / 1tsp chilli flakes / 200g tomatoes, chopped (fresh or canned) / 4 wholemeal tortillas / A handful of fresh coriander / 2tbsp Greek yogurt / 1 avocado, diced
TO MAKE
• Heat the oil in a wok until it starts to smoke.
• Add the chicken and stir-fry for four minutes.
• Add the onion and pepper or chilli and cook for a further three minutes.
• Add the chilli flakes and tomatoes and cook for another three minutes.
• Warm the wraps for two minutes under a preheated grill.
• Spoon the mixture into the wraps, dress them with the coriander, yogurt and avocado, and fold to eat.