| Scientists in India have shown how curcumin (a | | | | risk of gall stone formation, especially in women. |
| compound derived from turmeric) and capsaicin (a | | | | WEIGHT LOSS: Rapid weight loss that occurs in |
| compound found in chilies) work to prevent | | | | crash dieting increases the amount of cholesterol |
| gallstone formation. | | | | in the bile and slows gall bladder emptying. |
| 80 % of all gall stones are known as cholesterol | | | | AGE: People over the age of 60 are more likely |
| stones. As their name implies they consist | | | | to develop gall stones. |
| primarily of cholesterol crystals. The other 20% | | | | DIABETES: The high circulating levels of fatty |
| are known as pigmented stones. The two | | | | acids that occur in diabetic individuals makes them |
| different types arise from different underlying | | | | more susceptible to gallstone formation. |
| pathologies. | | | | Researchers have found that adding curcumin |
| Cholesterol stones are formed when cholesterol | | | | (from turmeric) and capsaicin (from chilies) to the |
| crystallizes in the gall bladder. They then either | | | | diet can help prevent the development of gall |
| continue to grow or, if small enough, are flushed | | | | stones in these high risk groups. These two |
| into the intestines with the bile. The initiation or | | | | spice-derived compounds work by reducing the |
| inhibition of the crystallization process concerns | | | | amount of cholesterol in the bile and inhibiting the |
| the concentration of cholesterol as well as the | | | | crystallization process that is the first step in |
| presence or absence of certain types of protein | | | | gallstone development. |
| in the bile. | | | | By this means they can reduce the risk of |
| A number of factors increase the risk of gall | | | | gallstone development fourfold - even in high risk |
| stone formation: | | | | individuals. |
| DIET: A diet high in saturated fat (particularly | | | | Thus far, chilies and turmeric are the only two |
| animal fat) increases cholesterol in the bile while a | | | | spices that have been tested in relation to |
| diet low in dietary fiber reduces gall bladder | | | | gallstone formation. However other spices such as |
| emptying. These two dietary factors increase the | | | | fenugreek, garlic, ginger, cinnamon and coriander |
| risk of gallstone development. | | | | have been shown to reduce several of the other |
| GENDER: Women are twice as likely to develop | | | | factors that contribute to gallstone development. |
| gall stones as men. This is because estrogen | | | | Scientists have already shown that spices can |
| increases the amount of cholesterol in the bile and | | | | help to prevent conditions such as heart disease, |
| inhibits gall bladder emptying. | | | | cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes. |
| GENETICS: Gallstones run in families and certain | | | | Now, not only can we add gallstones to that |
| ethnic groups such as Native Americans have a | | | | steadily growing list but, we have even more |
| higher than normal incidence of gallstones. | | | | incentive to include many more of these tasty |
| WEIGHT: Overweight and obesity increase the | | | | foods in our diet. |