Antioxidant-rich spices can help counteract harmful effects of a high-fat meal
A high-fat diet can increase individuals' chances of experiencing a heart attack, which is why so many people buy Plavix.
A high-fat diet can increase individuals' chances of experiencing a heart attack, which is why so many people buy Plavix. However, supplementing meals with plenty of spices like turmeric and cinnamon can help protect the body against the negative effects of eating fatty foods, according to researchers from Penn State University.
Consuming a large amount of fat can increase the levels of triglycerides in the blood. This increases the risk of heart disease.
"We found that adding spices to a high-fat meal reduced triglyceride response by about 30 percent, compared to a similar meal with no spices added," said lead researcher Sheila West. "In the spiced meal, we used rosemary, oregano, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, cloves, garlic powder and paprika."
She explained that these particular spices were chosen because of their powerful antioxidant activity.
The scientists' paper, which appears in the Journal of Nutrition, revealed that antioxidant activity increased by 13 percent in the blood of those who ate lots of spices. Additionally, insulin response decreased by about 20 percent.
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