Thermic Effects of Some Scottish Plant Foods

Weight gain occurs because of imbalances in energy balance favouring energy intake. Whilst over 50% of a person's energy requirement goes towards the maintenance of physiological functions, around 40% is used for physical activity. In addition to this, around 10-15% of energy is spent on what is termed as Diet Induced Thermogenesis (DIT). Diet Induced Thermogenesis is the increase in energy expenditure following a meal, and represents the energy utilised for the digestion and metabolism of food. Some nutrients such as proteins require more energy to digest and therefore produce a greater DIT than others. In addition to this, some food components are able to independently stimulate calorie burning. For example caffeine, chilli, ginger and green tea have been shown to induce calorie burning through DIT. Therefore the inclusion of such foods in the diet could increase energy expenditure and thereby help in weight control. The objective of this study is to determine the DIT effects of some plant foods that are native to Scotland (blackberries, blueberries, red raspberries, wild garlic and sea buckthorn). These foods have been shown to contain compounds that stimulate DIT. If found to be effective, these foods could then be used to develop dietary strategies for weight control in Scotland.