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Tufts
University nutritionists suspected the spice - a component of curry
and turmeric - could disrupt the growth of fat tissue by cutting off
the necessary blood supply. So they rounded up 18 mice to test their theory.
Six of them were fed a diet of
22% fat. Another six ate the same high-fat food but added a small
dose of daily curcumin. The remaining six mice served as a control
group, eating a mere 4% fat.
After 12 weeks, the spice-eating
mice gained less weight and accumulated less body fat than their
peers on the spice-free high-fat diet, according to a study published
recently in the Journal of Nutrition. They also had healthier levels
of blood glucose, triglycerides, fatty acids, cholesterol and liver fat.
The researchers, at the Jean
Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts, found
that the curcumin-eating mice did indeed grow fewer blood vessels in
their fat tissue. It is not yet known whether the results would be
the same in humans.
* Turmeric< (root) -
Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae)
Turmeric, also known as curcumin
contains curcuma, the pigment providing the bright yellow/orange
colour and a powerful antioxidant. A natural pain killer, turmeric
detoxifies the liver, treats arthritis, reduces nervous tension and
fights depression. Also used for psoriasis, turmeric boosts metabolic
function and reduces body fat. Turmeric is used to treat leukemia,
multiple sclerosis, melanoma and Alzheimer's disease. When turmeric
is combined with cauliflower it is believed to help prevent cancers
of the pancreas, prostate, liver and lungs. Turmeric has antiseptic,
antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Perhaps more interesting is the
research that has already been carried out on small numbers of
volunteers at Oxford Brookes University, which shows that 5g of
Tabasco sauce eaten with a meal can raise your metabolic rate (the
speed at which you burn calories) by between 15 per cent and 20 per
cent for up to two hours after eating.
In this instance, it is caused by
the super-nutrient capsaicin, which is present in the chillis. But to
achieve any lasting effect you would have to be prepared to add
Tabasco sauce to every meal, which is not very practical.
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