Add this spice to your water to
speed up fat burn.
You already know that water,
pure, unadulterated H2O, is the best beverage on the planet for good health and
for weight loss, too.
One of the ways water supports
weight loss is by satisfying your appetite. Since the same part of your brain
interprets both hunger and thirst signals, it's easy for your brain to mix up
those feelings and make you confuse hunger for thirst.
A large study based on data from
the National Health Examination Survey (NHANES) published in the Annals of
Family Medicine found a significant association between inadequate water intake
and obesity, suggesting that good hydration plays a key role in weight
management.
So, drink up, and slim down. But
is there any way to make weight loss happen quicker when drinking water?
"Try cumin water,"
suggests Trista Best, RD, MPH, a registered dietitian with Balance One.
You can make cumin water easily
at home using dried cumin seeds. The spice, which is rich in antioxidants, has
shown promise for improving immune-system and gut health, reducing
inflammation, and reducing lowering cancer risk. (While out shopping for cumin
seed, pick up these Popular Foods That Fight Inflammation All Over Your Body.
Cumin as a fat incinerator
"Cumin has been researched
for its fat-loss benefits and has been shown the increase metabolic rate in
those who have experienced this weight loss," says Best. "Faster
metabolism means the body is burning calories at a higher rate."
In a small clinical trial
involving 88 obese women, an experimental group of women ate yogurt laced with
cumin at two meals daily for three months. The control group ate the same
amount of yogurt but without the addition of cumin powder over the same period.
It turned out that only those women consuming cumin significantly reduced their
weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and fat mass. They also enjoyed
lower blood levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL (bad) cholesterol
while increasing the good HDL cholesterol.
Best also says cumin water aids
in regulating blood sugar levels by helping cells to respond properly to
glucose and insulin. When your blood sugar is high, more glucose can be stored
in your cells than you need for energy, and it can be converted to fat.
How to make cumin water
Cumin water (also called jeera
water) can be consumed hot or cold, says Best. To make it:
Soak a tablespoon of cumin seeds
in a cup or two of water overnight. (Some people like to crush the seeds first
with a rolling pin to release their natural oils.)
In the morning, boil the mixture
for about five minutes.
Once the water has cooled, strain
the seeds out and pour over ice or reheat to your preferred temperature.
"Cumin water has a very
mineral/woody taste," says Best. "I recommend adding a bit of natural
sweetener or cinnamon to the drink to improve the flavor."
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