Foods so hot they make you sweat may be useful in fighting the battle of the bulge, according to a recent scientific study. Spices such as chili peppers, black pepper, ginger, turmeric, coriander, and cumin have the ability to boost heat generation by the body.

In one study, Japanese men who consumed a breakfast with capsaicin, the hot ingredient in peppers, raised their diet-induced energy expenditure by 23 percent immediately after eating. By increasing body metabolism, spices speed up the oxidation of fats, reducing the positive energy balance in which fat is stored and can lead to obesity.

In a review of the scientific literature on spices. Dutch and Canadian researchers recently suggested that they could be considered as "functional agents" in preventing obesity.