Cumin Water: You already know that pure water, 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.”

JEFF CSATARI