"Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials have found that daily black cumin consumption significantly improves cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and blood sugar control.  Some of the results were quite extraordinary. For example, one study found that postmenopausal women randomized to a gram a day (which is less than a quarter teaspoon) of black cumin powder reduced their LDL cholesterol by 27 percent within two months, significantly better than placebo. Those are the kind of results you’d expect from a statin drug, yet this was just a sprinkle’s worth of a simple spice. Black cumin may even help with menopausal symptoms. Now it didn’t cure anything; a month after stopping the spice, cholesterol levels started to creep back up, but it does appear to be a cheap, safe, effective (and delicious if you like things spicy) treatment for some of our deadliest risk factors. And the side effects? Loss of appetite and weight loss. Bingo!"

"The latest systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled weight loss trials found that about a quarter teaspoon of black cumin powder every day does appear to cause weight loss within a span of a few months."

"In this study, a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial of eight weeks of a half teaspoon of powdered black cumin a day in Hashimoto’s patients. Not only was there a significant reduction in body weight, which is why I profiled it in my book, it also significantly reduced thyroid stimulating hormone, a sign that thyroid function was improving. It even lowered the level of autoimmune anti-thyroid antibodies, as well as increasing blood levels of thyroid hormone T3 in these Hashimoto’s patients. In addition, there was a significant drop in Interleukin 23, a proinflammatory cell signal thought to help promote the autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid, so further confirming the anti-inflammatory nature of the plant. And what were the side effects? A 17 percent drop in LDL bad cholesterol."