Antiobesity Spices – The increasing prevalence of obesity is happening also worldwide. According to WHO data, the prevalence of obesity has doubled since 1980. Almost 65% of the world’s population lives in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight.
Today, obesity affects not only adults but also children; 15-20% of children and adolescents are obese in the United States. Obesity is a serious health problem worldwide. The primary cause of obesity is an energy imbalance.
Obesity plays a key role in metabolic syndromes and is highly related to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
A variety of naturally occurring bioactive ingredients derived from common spices, including cinnamon, rosemary, ginger, pepper, saffron, garlic, onion and turmeric, have been proved to have weight-loss effects. Teas have been long used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat various ailments such as obesity and lipids disorders.
Natural products, particularly medicinal plants, are believed to harbor potential antiobesity agents that can act through various mechanisms either by preventing weight gain or promoting weight loss amongst others.
