Curry could be the key for weight loss, study suggests
Eating curry can help you lose weight.
Black cumin, the tiny, jet-black seeds sprinkled on creamy curries, paneer dishes and naan, has long been prized for its tangy taste, but now scientists say it can do much more than liven up dinner.
The humble spice appears to inhibit the formation of fat cells and significantly improve cholesterol levels, making it a potential weapon in the war against obesity, according to a new clinical study.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University recruited 42 volunteers with high cholesterol and asked half of them to consume 5 grams of black cumin powder (about a tablespoon) every day for eight weeks.
Those who ate the spice saw significant decreases in triglycerides, “bad” LDL cholesterol, and overall cholesterol, while increased levels of healthy HDL cholesterol.
Lead scientist Professor Akiko Kojima-Yuasa said: “These findings strongly suggest that black cumin seeds can be used as a functional food to prevent obesity and lifestyle-related diseases.
“It was gratifying to see real, demonstrable lipid-lowering effects in the human trial.”
The effects weren’t just seen in blood tests, as cellular experiments showed that extracts from the Nigella sativa plant, also known as kalonji or black cumin, effectively slow down the body’s ability to store fat by stopping fat cells from fully maturing.
The team now hopes to discover whether black cumin can help people with diabetes by improving insulin resistance and is calling for larger, long-term trials.
The spice has been used in traditional medicine for centuries for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powers, but modern science is increasingly catching up.
A major review in 2021 even described black cumin as a “miracle plant” thanks to its effects on metabolism and immunity.
In addition to curries, the seeds are used to flavor breads, soups and rice dishes in Indian, Middle Eastern and North African cuisines; This means the key to a slimmer life may already be sitting in your spice cabinet.
