Some unpretentious spices can be incredible sources of health. Few people imagine that this little ordinary seed can become your faithful aid to weight loss.
A study published in the journal Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice was the first to reveal the potential of cumin seeds to lose weight. The use of this spice can help you lose weight faster and has a positive effect on fat by reducing the levels of harmful lipids in the blood.
Research on caraway and body fat
Iranian scientists at the Shadid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences included 88 women considered overweight or obese in their study. They divided them randomly into two groups:
One group ate 3 grams of caraway powder each day, mixed with 5 grams of yoghurt.
The control group also ate yogurt, but without any additions.
Both groups received dietary advice and reduced their daily calorie intake by 500 calories.
Results of the study
Various measures and body parameters were taken and recorded before the study, then after 3 months of diet.
– Women who ate caraway lost 1.5 kilograms more than those who did not eat caraway.
– Better yet, the cumin group reduced the body fat percentage by 14.64% – almost triple the 4.91% of the control group – apparently through the addition of the fat-burning spice.
The women in the treatment group also had a reduction in fasting cholesterol, triglycerides (a type of fat associated with atherosclerosis, heart disease and diabetes) and (bad) LDL cholesterol, while their levels of good) HDL cholesterol increased.
On the other hand, women who took cumin found a greater reduction in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.
The authors of the study concluded that caraway powder can significantly boost the success of a weight loss diet.
How does cumin work?
Cumin is rich in antioxidants and phytosterols. Phytosterols are natural substances of plant origin that are similar to cholesterol in their structure and function. They inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the digestive system, which could explain their effect of weight reduction.
Previous clinical trials have shown that eating foods fortified with at least 0.8 grams of plant sterols or stanols lowers LDL cholesterol levels.
Cumin has also been associated with cancer prevention. Seeds are an excellent source of iron and support the functions of the immune system.
How to consume cumin?
3 grams of cumin powder, the dose that was used in the study, is a little less than a teaspoon. If you find the yoghurt and cumin mix to your liking, you can try other ways to incorporate this powerful spice into your diet.
- Add ground cumin to your steamed vegetables.
- Use caraway when making a hummus or guacamole.
- Prepare a cup of hot drink by boiling the cumin seeds in the water and let them steep for 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle on nuts or other healthy snacks.
- Use it to spice up your lentil soup.
- Add some quinoa to make an exotic note (you can also mix dried apricots and almonds).
Other spices for weight loss
There are 10 other spices you can use for weight loss: ginger, cardamom, black pepper, mustard, cayenne pepper, ginseng, dandelion, turmeric, cinnamon.
You can also make a drink of cinnamon and honey to help you lose weight and you can find the recipe in this article.
Coconut oil can also be used for weight loss and I have already mentioned in the past what to eat 2 tablespoons of coconut oil can do to your weight.
Apple cider vinegar can also help you lose weight, and here is an article with 4 apple cider vinegar recipes for weight loss.
sources:
www.prevention.com
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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