Bell peppers reduces diabetes and obesity risk

Lifestyle diseases like diabetes and obesity are increasing day by day. The change in health habits and lifestyle could be the main reason. There are many natural remedies to cure or reverse the diseases but recently Indian scientists have added Capsicum into that list by discovering the fat-fighting and sugar controlling properties.

The scientists from CSIR- Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) studied that effect of capsicum or bell peppers on digestive enzymes namely, ‘alpha- glucosidase’ which breaks down carbohydrates into glucose and pancreatic ‘lipase’ which breaks down the lipids or fats in the body to fatty acids. The scientists found out that yellow and red capsicum slows down the digestion of carbohydrates and lipids.

Lead author and Senior Principal Scientist, Dr. Ashok Kumar Tiwari explained that the concentration of lipids and blood sugar is reduced once digestion of carbohydrates and lipids is slowed down, and hence it would cut the chance of developing hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidemia.
 
Dr. Tiwari said yellow and red capsicums were more effective than green capsicum due to the presence of oligomerised anthocyanins. They were better inhibitors than pro-anthocyanins found in green capsicum. He suggested eating yellow and red capsicum in raw form as salad before the main course.

By Lizitha