The Role of Selected Bioactive Compounds in Teas, Spices, Cocoa and Coffee in Body Weight Control

Abstract

The prevalence of obesity and its associated complications, in the form of metabolic disorders, are a major public health problem. Taking into consideration that obesity is a risk factor for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, which are an increasing public health concern, the search and use of dietary agents for the prevention and management of obesity would be of tremendous benefit. Recently, natural bioactive phytochemicals present in foods have been found to provide health benefits and have effects on the prevention of several chronic non-communicable diseases including obesity. Naturally-occurring bioactive compounds present in teas, spices, cocoa and coffee, such as catechins, capsaicinoids, capsinoids, ginerols, and methylxanthines have been shown to modulate physiological and molecular pathways that are involved in energy metabolism, adiposity, and obesity. These compounds play an important role in weight control by decreasing appetite, increasing fat oxidation, augmenting thermogenesis, elevating energy expenditure and diminishing substrate absorption. The main objective of the present review is to present the impact of bioactive compounds found in teas, spices, cocoa and coffee on body weight control with the provision of mechanisms of actions