Jeera or cumin is a household spice used in various south-east Asian and Mexican cuisines. Apart from imparting a delicious, nutty flavor to food, jeera helps in weight loss. A study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice showed a positive correlation between 3 g cumin powder intake (mixed with curd, two times a day) and a reduction in body weight (1).
Read on to know the science-backed benefits of jeera water for weight loss, how to prepare jeera water, recipes, and how you can include it in your diet.
Note: While drinking jeera water may help you lose weight to an extent, it does not work on reducing fat. You need a holistic approach to get rid of fat. Consuming jeera water three times a day, along with following lifestyle management techniques, can aid weight loss and reduce fat.
What Is Jeera Water?
Jeera water is the solution you obtain after soaking cumin seeds in water overnight. Through the process of osmosis, the water enters the cumin seeds, and they swell up. The turgid cumin seeds then release the nutrients into the water. This imparts an earthy yellow color to the water.
Now, let’s get to the main point – how jeera water aids weight loss.
Benefits Of Jeera Water For Weight Loss
1. Low In Calories
One teaspoon of cumin (2.1 g) has 8 calories (2). Hence, having a glass of jeera water (1 teaspoon of jeera powder) does not add extra calories.
2. Boosts Metabolism
Cumin water or jeera water helps boost metabolism. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals that act as cofactors for various metabolic reactions.
Researchers found that administering cumin and lime improved the metabolic rate and overall lipid profile and reduced the BMI of overweight participants (3).
3. Improves Digestion
Cumin or jeera water improves digestion by accelerating the functions of digestive enzymes. Improved digestion results in improved resting metabolic rate, leading to weight loss.
A study on 57 Iranian people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) showed that cumin seed oil improved the frequency of bowel habit and relieving other symptoms (4). Cumin extracts accelerate the secretion of amylase, lipase, protease, and phytase, which enhance digestion (5).
4. Detoxifies The Body
Studies show that all varieties of cumin seeds (cumin, black cumin, and bitter cumin) are excellent sources of antioxidants and can scavenge harmful free oxygen radicals (6).
Thymoquinone, the chief bioactive ingredient in black cumin seeds, shows hepatoprotective effects (7). It helps in cleansing the body of harmful toxins.
5. Anti-inflammatory
The active ingredients in cumin seeds have anti-inflammatory properties (8). A constant state of inflammation can lead to inflammation-induced obesity, and drinking jeera water or cumin water can help prevent that.
Studies showed that cumin seed oil could prevent inflammation by blocking the crosstalk between the cells and inhibiting the signaling pathways (7).
6. Lowers LDL Cholesterol Levels
Cumin can help improve HDL cholesterol levels and lower LDL cholesterol levels. Scientists from Iran studied the effect of cumin powder on obese women and determined their body composition and lipid profile. The study showed reduced levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and higher HDL (good) cholesterol levels with lower body fat percentage (1).
7. Improves Insulin Sensitivity
Cumin helps to sensitize insulin and make it available to cells. Insulin Resistance (IR) (inability of the cells to utilize insulin) decreases glucose uptake by cells. The more the number of fat cells, the higher the risk of IR and type 2 diabetes.
A rat study found that effective combinations of essential oils, including cumin oil, helped reduce blood glucose levels and increased insulin sensitivity (9).
How To Use Cumin For Weight Loss
It is best to make jeera water in a glass, stainless steel, or copper bowl. Cover it with a lid to prevent contamination.
To prepare jeera water, you need:
How To Prepare
When To Drink Jeera Water For Weight Loss
You must drink jeera water three times a day for effective weight loss.
Other Jeera Water Recipes For Weight Loss
1. Jeera Water And Lime
Ingredients
How To Prepare
Benefits
Lime is a good source of vitamin C, which is an antioxidant (10). It can boost immunity, flush the toxins out, and help maintain the body’s internal pH.
2. Jeera Water And Cinnamon
Ingredients
How To Prepare
Benefits
Ceylon cinnamon aids weight loss by lowering blood glucose levels and reducing stress. In a study, supplementing with 3 g of Ceylon cinnamon for 16 weeks showed significant improvement in all components of metabolic syndrome (11).
3. Jeera Water And Apple Cider Vinegar
Ingredients
How To Prepare
Benefits
An experiment on high-fat-fed mice showed that the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar was effective in increasing fatty acid oxidation (the breakdown of fat molecules) (12).
You can also include jeera or cumin in your daily diet to improve digestion, prevent constipation, and induce weight loss.
The combination of cumin and yogurt tastes great. You can use this combo as a salad dressing or have it for lunch or dinner. Here’s how to prepare it:
Ingredients
How To Prepare
Tip: You can add chopped cucumber, tomato, onion, cilantro, or sprouts to the cumin and yogurt mix to make a delicious salad.
Ways To Add Cumin or Jeera To Your Diet
Tip: Make sure you don’t overburn them while cooking as that will destroy all the goodness of the cumin seeds.
Other Health Benefits
Possible Side Effects of Jeera Water
Cumin is non-toxic and generally safe to consume. It may trigger the following adverse symptoms if taken in excess (7):
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