High cholesterol and obesity are two of the most common medical conditions, linking health risks from diabetes to heart disease.
And when they go hand-in-hand, it’s a double jeopardy scenario.
Now, however, a scientific breakthrough has finally discovered a compound that could help battle both issues in one fell swoop.
Here are the details…
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The metabolic health-boosting benefits of black cumin seed
For centuries, the seeds of the Nigella Sativa plant (black cumin) have been used in traditional medicine to boost the immune system, balance blood sugar and even nourish the skin.
Not to mention, they add a delicious smoky flavor to breads, hummus and curries. So how did this tasty therapeutic seed get left out in the cold?
Like most ancient remedies, these seeds have taken a back seat to patented drugs that can generate massive profits.
Take statins, the most profitable drugs of all time. An estimated 35% of Americans take statins. If not for the side effects, including muscle pain, that number could be higher. About 40% patients stop taking a statin prescription in the first 6 months.
And before we get too far, let’s not forget Big Pharma’s newest and greatest cash cow, the GLP-1 agonists. Even though the list of potential side effects for these drugs keeps growing, people are still spending billions on Ozempic and Wegovy.
Is it any wonder, then, why research like a 2015 trial that found taking cumin capsules daily produced outcomes similar to Orlistat, a weight-reducing medication that also improves cholesterol, has been pushed under the rug?
Fortunately, that hasn’t put a stop to researchers like food scientist Akiko Kojima-Yuasa, who says black cumin seeds are a useful functional food for preventing obesity and lifestyle-related conditions…
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Doubling down on benefits
In a clinical trial at Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan, 22 participants consumed 5 grams of black cumin seed powder daily. Compared with a control group, participants who consumed the black cumin seed powder experienced a decrease in bad cholesterol and an increase in good cholesterol after just 8 weeks.
And guess what? These findings support previous studies that reported the same beneficial effect on cholesterol levels.
To top things off, the researchers think black cumin might even inhibit adipogenesis — the formation of mature fat cells — based on lab-grown cell experiments, by impacting key genetic regulators of the metabolic process.
According to the scientists, the improvements black cumin offers could ultimately boost cardiovascular health, lower the risk of future heart problems and help with weight loss.
According to Akiko Kojima-Yuasa, “It was so gratifying to see black cumin comprehensively demonstrate actual, demonstrable blood lipid-lowering effects in a human trial.
“We hope to perform longer-term and larger-scale clinical trials to investigate the effects of black cumin on metabolism. We are particularly interested in investigating its effects on insulin resistance in diabetes and inflammatory markers.”
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Putting black cumin to work for you
So how can you leverage the powers of black cumin for your metabolic health?
Let me count the ways…
Black cumin seeds can be found in specialty stores and online, and can be added to recipes the same way you might use flax or chia seeds, though they may have a stronger flavor. But if you want to incorporate their potential lipid-lowering and weight-reduction benefits daily, supplements are available in powder form or containing the seed’s extracted oil.
My preference is black seed oil. When the seed goes through cold-pressed extraction, it typically retains its powerful bioactive nutrients, including:
If you’re already on medications for cholesterol or blood sugar, let your doctor know before adding black cumin seed because of its effects on both of these conditions.
Spending on GLP-1s has grown dramatically. Here are the details – AMA
Statin statistics 2025 – SingleCare
A Daily Sprinkle of Cumin Seeds Can Help Lower Cholesterol, Study Finds – Science Alert