Fermented garlic may be the answer to obesity prevention, researchers discover

Millions of people suffer from the consequences of obesity — even though they are largely preventable. Following a healthy diet and exercising regularly are just some of the natural ways to prevent them from occurring. One natural way to prevent obesity is by consuming garlic extract fermented by lactic acid bacteria, according to a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.

In the study, researchers at Korea University examined the anti-obesity effects of fermented garlic extract on obesity in mice. The team induced obesity by feeding mice with a high-fat diet. Then, they orally gave the mice with either 250 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) or 500 mg/kg of the fermented garlic extract every day for eight weeks.

Based on the results, the treatment of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg fermented garlic extract reduced body weight by 14 and 18 percent, respectively. In addition, the fermented garlic extract also reduced lower epididymal, retroperitoneal, and mesenteric adipose tissue mass by 36, 44, and 63 percent, respectively. Moreover, it significantly decreased the levels of triglyceride and total cholesterol, as well as suppressed adipogenesis. These results suggested that fermented garlic extract possesses anti-obesity effects.

Based on these findings, it can be concluded that consuming fermented garlic extract can help fight diet-induced obesity and its possible health complications.

Obesity is a major health problem because it can increase the risk of many other health problems, some of which pose threat to life. These include Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, gallbladder disease, fatty liver disease, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and other breathing problems, arthritis, infertility, and certain cancers such as breast, colon, and endometrial cancers. In addition to lack of exercise and unhealthy eating, lack of proper sleep, age, pregnancy, and certain medical conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) commonly cause obesity. (Related: It’s not that heart disease and obesity runs in your family, it’s that nobody in your family RUNS.)

Pomegranate extract can also fight obesity

Consuming pomegranate could be another way to fight obesity and its complications. A study published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice found that pomegranate extracts contain powerful anti-obesity properties, and supplementing with it may help reduce complications related to obesity.

In the study, researchers from Iran and Australia evaluated the effect of pomegranate extract on plasma inflammatory, oxidative stress biomarkers, and serum metabolic profiles in overweight and obese individuals. Forty-eight obese and overweight individuals consumed either 1,000 milligrams (mg) of pomegranate extract or a placebo every day for 30 days.

The researchers measured the anthropometric parameters, dietary intake, plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-6, and hyper sensitive-C reactive protein of the participants at the start and end of the treatment period. They also measured the levels of serum lipids, glucose, and insulin.

The supplementation with pomegranate extract resulted in a significant reduction in serum glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. It also reduced plasma MDA, IL-6, and hyper sensitive-C reactive protein. In addition, the pomegranate extract increased the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

The findings of the study suggested that supplementing with pomegranate extract for 30 days may help fight obesity and lower the risk of complications related to it.

Read more news stories and studies on natural ways to fight obesity by going to Slender.news.

Sources include:

Science.news

Healthline.com

ScienceDirect.com