Friday Nov 15, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Taking curcumin as a dietary supplement may help prevent obesity, according to a new study in Biofactors.   P. G. Bradford from State University of New York at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York presents a great deal of evidence to explain why curcumin can help prevent obesity.

Curcumin is found in turmeric, a spice that is commonly used in India, has been known for long that it has anti-inflammatory and health promoting properties.  Curcumin promotes weight loss and reduces incidence of obesity-related diseases because obesity is associated with chronic low grade metabolic inflammation, according to the report.   

Curcumin can also directly interacts with white adipose cells to suppress chronic inflammation and inhibits macrophage infiltration and suppresses the activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) triggered by inflammatory agents.

Curcumin also redcues the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, a potent inflammation promoter.  It also inhibits "monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), and it induces the expression of adiponectin, the principal anti-inflammatory agent secreted by adipocytes," the author reports.  Additionally, curcumin inhibits adipocyte differentiation and promotes antioxidant activities.   Curcumin reduces obesity and its adverse health effects through many mechanisms.

Curcumin is one of the most healthful dietary supplements any one can use.  It is very safe.  Studies show using six grams of curcumin per day for a long term did not result in any adverse effects. Some people say if we are allowed to use only one dietary supplement, then curcumin is the one we will have to use.   In addition to preventing obesity, curcumin can also help prevent cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease.   

Curcumin is available as a dietary supplement on the Internet or local health stores.

Obesity is caused by an inadequate diet and dietary habits.  There are many things a person can do or not do to prevent obesity.  Some are as follows:

1) Eat food as slowly as possible; This can reduce intake of calories;

2) Do not eat anything within the first 20 min of feeling hungry; Eating food at this time, you tend to eat more than what you intend to eat;

3) Do not eat 3 hours before you go to bed;   you can’t use up what you eat later and excessive foods will be stored in your system resulting in obesity in a long run.

4) Do not use calorie dense diet that has too much meat, fat and sugars; because you know it, you overeat it already if you eat calorie dense foods or diet;

5) Avoid foods and beverages with sucrose and high fructose syrup or fructose; these sugars are linked to obesity.  Fructose is harder than glucose to be dealt with in your system;

6) Keep moving; Moving around to help you to burn some calories;

7) Do not stay too later at night; When you stay too late at night, you may have to have a second dinner;

8) Eat high fiber foods and diet, vegetables, and whole grains as much as you want; High dietary fiber diet means you are eating more plant-based foods, which are healthier, according to Dr. T Colin Campbell, distinguished nutrition professor at Cornell University;

9) Use some supplements that provide something that is not readily available from your diet including curcumin, dietary fiber, raspberry ketone, L-cysteine, Grape seed extract, green tea, spirulina, and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) among others.  Many supplements are known to have an favorable effect on weight loss or antiobesogenic effect;

10) Avoid using anything with bisphenol A; some toxic chemicals can disrupt your system making you more vulnerable to becoming obese;

11) Avoid high fat diet; High fat diet is high calorie diet.  It is easy to overeat and you can get too much calories. (david Liu PHD)