Choosing the foods to put on the table is not irrelevant to our health and some foods may be really useful to counteract overweight and the fat localized on the waistline. This type of fat indeed is more dangerous than subcutaneous fat because, according to scientific studies, it acts like an endocrine organ by releasing hormones and inflammatory substances that feed chronic inflammations. In the long run this condition may cause diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular problems or even cancer (Coelho et al, Arch Med Sci, 2013 - Deng et al, Annu Rev Pathol, 2016). In the previous posts we have seen how some spices, with different action of mechanisms, are able to accelerate the metabolism and to counteract the abdominal fat. Today we will see the action of two spices, the chili pepper and the nutmeg.
Chili pepper
Chili pepper contains an active substance called capsaicin that plays a role in fighting overweight and the fat around the belly. This effect is performed through different mechanisms, namely the activation of the thermogenesis, that increases the production of heat from the adipose tissue, the inhibition of adipogenesis, and therefore fat accumulation, and finally the support to the functionality of the gastrointestinal tract and the regulation of appetite (Zheng et al, Biosci Rep, 2017 - Varghese et al, Int J Food Sci Nutr, 2017). Moreover, chili pepper is also anti inflammatory (Narang et al, Pharmacogn Rev, 2017), for this reason you can understand that this precious spice added to your dishes doesn’t just give taste but also health. However, doesn’t exceed with the quantity because too much chili pepper may irritate the internal mucosa.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a very scented spice that can be added on different recipes, from sweets to pasta. On the basis of a scientific study, it seems also to be able to counteract obesity and to prevent diabetes type 2 by modulating an enzyme, the AMP-activated protein kinase, involved in the metabolism and in the regulation of appetite (Nguyen et al, Bioorg Med Chem Lett, 2010). However, use this spice with moderation, never exceed with it, because in a high dosage it may cause nausea, vomit and convulsion.
