Spices Help Fight Fat, Heart Disease

Good news for spicy-food fans: A new study from Penn State reveals that adding spices, like tumeric or cinnamon, can cut out fats in certain foods.

The results of researchers tests can add a combination of spices like tumeric, garlic, ginger, and paprika to the long list of metabolism-boosting foods. NPR reports that when testers ate the same meal with and without the spicy addition, those who ate the spicy meal had decreased levels of triglycerides (a type of fat) — by as much as one-third. Levels even dropped when the meal was high in fat or was oil-based.

Keeping triglyceride and insulin levels low can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, the study authors say. Although it's unclear whether spices have a long-term impact on a person's risk factor for certain diseases, spices may well play a major part in preventative medicine soon. Check out 10 more spicy dishes to cut fat and boost metabolism.