Brown Fat as Therapeutic Strategy for Obesity and Associated Metabolic Diseases Via Functional Food/Nutraceutical Approach - Molecular Mechanisms of Pentacyclic Triterpenes (BRACE)

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or Female * Chinese ethnicity * Age between 21 to 60 years• Able to give informed consent * Body mass index (BMI) between 23 to 32 kg/m2 * Thyroid function test must be within the normal ranges * Willing to avail yourself for the whole study and follow study procedures * EITHER deemed to have pre-metabolic syndrome when waist circumference is \> 90 cm in men or \> 80 cm in women, with none or up to one of the following condition: 1. Triglyceride level \>/= 1.7 mmol/L 2. HDL cholesterol \</= 1.0 mmol/L in men, and \</= 1.3 mmol/L in women 3. Blood pressure \>/= 130/85 mmHg 4. Fasting blood glucose \>/= 6.1 mmol/L * OR deemed to have metabolic syndrome when three or more of the following conditions are present: 1. Waist circumference \> 90 cm in men and \> 80 cm in women 2. Triglyceride level \>/= 1.7 mmol/L 3. HDL cholesterol\</= 1.0 mmol/L in men, and \</= 1.3 mmol/L in women 4. Blood pressure \>/= 130/85 mmHg 5. Fasting blood glucose \>/= 6.1 mmol/L Exclusion Criteria: * Are pregnant or contemplating pregnancy (for female subjects) * Partake in sports at the competitive and/ or endurance levels * Have known glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency * Have major chronic disease such as heart disease or cancer * Take insulin or drugs known to affect glucose metabolism * Intentionally restrict food intake * Have major medical or surgical event requiring hospitalization within the preceding 3 months * Have taken antibiotics for 3 months before the study period * Are a smoker * Are an overnight shift worker * Have any known food allergy (eg. anaphylaxis to peanuts) or skin allergy (eg. rashes due to alcohol, etc) * Having active Tuberculosis (TB) or currently receiving treatment for TB * Have any known Chronic Infection or known to suffer from or have previously suffered from or is a carrier of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) * Are a member of the research team or their immediate family members. Immediate family member is defined as a spouse, parent, child, or sibling, whether biological or legally adopted * Enrolled in a concurrent research study judged not to be scientifically or medically compatible with this study * Have poor veins impeding venous access * Have any history of severe vasovagal syncope (blackouts or near faints) following blood draws * History of claustrophobia