spices ok?

Hey guys!  I'm interested in starting to add some spicer foods to my diet.  (I've never been a spicey food person, but things change!)  Do I need to be concerned about my pouch and the impact of spices (like cayenne, peppers, etc.)?

Robin,
You are so right about taste changing.
I do not do hot cant stand it but I have found myself adding one jalopena pepper to my bean soup.
Next time I make it I think I will add two.
I am looking for the taste not the heat.
As far as spices and your pouch I guess once again like so many foods for us is trial and error.
Sometimes like me I have to keep relearning lessons about food and the pouch.
Yesterday when we got home I heated up some leftover chicken wrap filling it was soooo tasty and I love the stuff.
I know I ate more than I should have and got sooo frustrated I could not eat more.
For me I have to keep learning not to tempt fate and be happy with small amounts.
Also my to die for chocolate mousse I wont be eatting that for a few weeks I have to learn not to over do it no matter how wonderful it taste.
                                                                  Annie

Hi Robin,

Spices should be fine.  Many of us losers taste do change after surgery and surprisingly lots of folks like it hotter than they used to.  I think since we eat a lot less, our body compensates for the reduction in volume by wanting more flavor.  So as Emeril would say...

!!!!   B A M   !!!!

Kick it up a notch or 2...

~Dalton

Thanks, Dalton!  I'm actually looking to add because several holistic fitness folks I know say that spicy can increase metabolism, so in addition to flavor, I'm looking for metabolic benefits.  What spices/changes have you made?

Thanks, sweetie!  What did I miss about your mousse?  (and where can I find the recipe?)

Chocolate Mousse

4oz bittersweet chocolate
1/4 heavy cream
1/2 cup splenda
4 eggs seperated
pinch of salt

melt chocolate in microwave according to package directions
add cream and mix.
Add Splenda slowly to mixture.
Add egg yolks one at a time.
Beat whites with added salt to stiff peaks.
Fold whites into chocolate mixture.
Set in bowl to chill.

yummmmm!

I've been having real success whipping the whites that you get from Egg Beaters (called just whites, I think) into semi stiff peaks.    Can I use these and egg beaters in the mixture?  And can I use fat free half and half instead?  (trying to reduce calories as much as possible.)

Robin,
I havent made the mousse with the products you mentioned but hey give it a try and please let me know how it comes out I am always looking to reduce fat and sugar in regular recipes.
                                             Annie

Hi Robin, your right on about the metabolic increase from the spices.  Cayenne pepper will do wonders for you on the metabolic front as well as add flavor.  I like to mix a little red and white pepper into my foods. 

I have also added Chinese Green Tea (2 cups a day) into my diet which also provides a metabolism boost.  I'll steep a bag for about 2 minutes, add a little lemon, and a few drops of stevia liquid.  Good stuff and no calories or caffeine, plus can be counted toward your daily water intake.  Green tea also has antioxidant effects so its a win win all around. 

Hope these tricks work for you.

Thanks!  After I heard from you guys, and with a little more research, I found that some cleanse had cayenne in the lemonade mix, so I figured I'd try that.  I took a sugar free lemonade mix and added 1/8th teaspoon cayenne to it with 30 oz water.  It doesn't change the taste (at least to me) but I do feel a little "sparkle" at the back of my throat. So that is at least part of what I plan to do going forward.  At almost 50, everything I can do to bump the metabolism is a go!

The green tea has the egcg, right?  Have you found that any teas are better or worse than others? 

And have you found anything else that can increase metabolism?