Thailand: They go for the burn.
Chiles are constantly popping up in Thai cuisine—the most innocent-sounding papaya salad could arrive covered in the notorious "mouse-dropping chiles" that will set your mouth on fire. If this small chile (one of the world's hottest) is too extreme, you could try adding a milder pepper (like a
Poblano or Anaheim) to your dish—the heat can slow you down just enough to recognize when you're getting full, says registered dietician Felicia Stoler, the author of
Living Skinny in Fat Genes. Another way Stoler says spicy food helps you eat less: It makes you crave water, which fills you up.
