London: Chillies battle the bulge in three ways by burning fat, suppressing hunger pangs, and boosting overall calorie-burning rates, it has been revealed.

Tests by food scientist Stephen Whiting, who is based at Manchester Metropolitan University, proved that chillies “key component” – the chemical capsaicin that gives them heat, triggers an adrenalin rush.

This orders the brain specifically to burn fat cells, and tests found fat around the belly was burned most rapidly.

Midriff fat is the most dangerous, as it increases the risk of heart disease.

Whiting found chillies also helped to suppress appetite, plus they speeded up the body’s overall metabolism, the rate at which a person burns off calories.

“If you eat chillies consistently for a good period of time, it will help you lose weight,” the Sun quoted Whiting as saying.