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Lose Weight, Fight Fatty Liver, and Improve Cholesterol With This Common Spice

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The popular kitchen spice cumin boasts myriad health benefits. In fact, research suggests that cumin is a great spice to add to your routine if you’re looking to boost your heart health, improve digestion — and even help you lose weight.

The aroma of cuminaldehyde, the active ingredient in cumin, could help you lose the stubborn pounds, fatigue, and joint pain that come along with fatty liver disease, report researchers in the journal Human & Experimental Toxicology. In an animal study, exposing rodents with fatty liver to the scent of cuminaldehyde for four weeks prevented the 110 percent rise in triglycerides, 64 percent liver weight gain, and 56 percent increase in total cholesterol seen in those that didn’t smell the cumin. According to the authors, cuminaldehyde’s antioxidant properties fight the oxidative damage which triggers fat storage in the liver. They recommend adding a few drops of cumin essential oil — like this one from Healing Solutions ($9.99, Amazon) — to an aromatherapy diffuser daily, or incorporating cumin seeds or powder into soups, stews, and curries.

What’s more, since cumin helps to fight fat in the liver, it can also help you lose weight, too. Other research has shown that cumin helps with weight loss. In one study of 88 overweight women, it was found that a yogurt snack containing three grams of cumin powder promoted weight loss, while the yogurt alone did not. In another study, some subjects were given 75 milligrams of cumin supplements every day while others received a placebo. The group taking the cumin lost an average of three pounds more than those who took the placebo. Impressive! 

And cumin might help you lose weight in another, more subtle way — by improving your digestion. As we know by now, proper elimination is essential if you’re trying to lose weight. However, things can sometimes get a little… backed up. Luckily, cumin is here to help. Cumin has been used traditionally to treat digestive issues like IBS and indigestion. Research now also indicates that cumin promotes healthy digestion by increasing the release of bile from the liver which helps to digest fat and other nutrients in the gut! Cumin has also shown to stimulate digestive enzymes in the gut, helping the digestive process.

The good news is, you can start using cumin for health benefits by simply adding it to your cooking as mentioned above in soups, curries, or stews. But if you’d like to experiment with taking a more concentrated form of cumin, we like Dr. Wakde’s Organic Cumin Seed Capsules ($23.01, Amazon). As always, please consult your doctor before trying any new supplement. 

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