Grains of Paradise, also called Aframomum melegueta, is a spicy seed from West Africa that tastes a bit like pepper. People have used it for food and traditional medicine for centuries. Today, it’s gaining popularity, and for good reason: modern science is confirming that it may have real benefits for fat loss, metabolism, and stress.
Science‑Backed Benefits
Researchers have tested Grains of Paradise extract in healthy adults and found three major benefits. These benefits have been studied in real people using real doses, not just in test tubes or mice.
1. Boosts Fat Burning
A 2013 British Journal of Nutrition study showed that just 40 mg once helped active grown men burn more calories at rest. That happened because it turned on their brown fat, the special tissue that generates heat and burns energy (1). This means your body could start using more fat for energy, even when you're sitting still. For people with slow or stubborn metabolisms, that’s a big deal.
2. Lowers Belly Fat
A 2014 clinical trial gave young women 30 mg daily for 4 weeks. The result? A real drop in visceral fat (the deep belly fat around your organs) and a rise in daily calorie burning (2). Visceral fat is linked to many health problems, so lowering it can help reduce risk. And these results came without changing diet or exercise. Of course, no product or ingredient will compensate for a bad diet, but this study isolated the Grains of Paradise ingredient and showed how much power it packs all on its own.
3. Reactivates Brown Fat
A 2021 study showed that taking Grains of Paradise regularly helped people with less brown fat in their body wake it up again. That led to better fat loss and calorie burn (3). This is good news for older adults or anyone with a slower metabolism. Reactivating brown fat may help your body start burning calories more efficiently again.
How It Works
Your body contains two types of fat: white fat and brown fat. The primary purpose of white fat is to store energy. In a broad sense, this is what fat is: energy stored in your body, waiting to be used. But white fat does nothing more than that. It just sits there.
Brown fat, on the other hand, is metabolically active. It actually burns energy to produce heat. More brown fat means a better metabolism, improved blood sugar control, and potentially also protection against obesity.†
Grains of Paradise is rich in a compound called 6‑paradol, along with 6‑gingerol and 6‑shogaol. These activate the receptor in brown fat that makes brown fat produce heat and burn calories (1). This heat is called thermogenesis, and it helps your body use more energy, even when you're not moving. Over time, this process can support steady fat loss without extreme dieting.
Animal studies back this too: rats given the extract or 6‑paradol showed warmer brown fat and more active calorie burn (2). While rats aren’t humans, these studies help scientists understand how the ingredient works in the body. And so far, the results look promising for people too.
Why it Matters
Burning more calories at rest and losing deep belly fat helps reduce risk of diabetes, heart disease, and metabolic issues. Even a small increase in daily calorie use can add up to real results over time. For people who feel stuck, this could be a simple way to move forward.
And unlike diets or workouts, turning on brown fat can make fat loss feel easier and more natural. You're not forcing your body to work harder, you're helping it do what it was designed to do.
Grains of Paradise may be small in size, but it packs big science‑backed power. If you're looking for a natural way to burn more fat, boost metabolism, and target belly fat, this little seed might be a strong addition to your routine. It is backed by studies, safe for most people, and fits easily into your daily habits.
At ViCera, we took this powerful ingredient and built it into our IGNITE supplement, a product designed to help your body burn at its best. We use a clinically studied dose of Grains of Paradise Fruit Extract, alongside other proven ingredients, to support fat metabolism, energy, and thermogenesis. Our formula was crafted by experts in both professional athletics and functional nutrition to give your body real, science-backed support where it needs it most.†
As always, pair any supplement with good nutrition, daily movement, and rest. These are the real tools for lifelong health.
† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Sources
-
Sugita, J., Yoneshiro, T., Hatano, T., Aita, S., Ikemoto, T., Uchiwa, H., Iwanaga, T., Kameya, T., Kawai, Y., & Saito, M. (2013). Grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta) extract activates brown adipose tissue and increases whole-body energy expenditure in men. British Journal of Nutrition, 110, 733 - 738. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114512005715.
-
Sugita, J., Yoneshiro, T., Sugishima, Y., Ikemoto, T., Uchiwa, H., Suzuki, I., & Saito, M. (2014). Daily ingestion of grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta) extract increases whole-body energy expenditure and decreases visceral fat in humans.. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology, 60 1, 22-7 . https://doi.org/10.3177/JNSV.60.22.
-
Yoneshiro, T., Matsushita, M., Sugita, J., Aita, S., Kameya, T., Sugie, H., & Saito, M. (2021). Prolonged Treatment with Grains of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta) Extract Recruits Adaptive Thermogenesis and Reduces Body Fat in Humans with Low Brown Fat Activity.. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology, 67 2, 99-104 . https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.67.99.
