Personal trainers and exercise professionals could do worse than suggesting their clients and club members spice up their daily diet.

A new report suggest that adding cayenne chili pepper to meals could help people curb their appetite and burn calories - especially those who don't normally eat it.

Researchers at Purdue University in Indiana, US, observed 25 people of normal weight - 13 who liked spicy food, 12 who did not - over six weeks.

Non-spice lovers ate 0.3 grammes of pepper with a meal while the others ate 1.8 grammes. In general, pepper consumption increased core body temperature and burned more calories through natural energy expenditure.

Those who didn't regularly eat pepper also experienced a decrease in hunger after eating it.