Caraway Seed Extract May Slim Waistline and Thighs

Weight loss can be difficult, even if you’re following a good diet and exercising regularly. A recent study suggests that an aqueous extract of caraway seeds may help suppress appetite and slim waistlines and thighs in physically active overweight and obese women.

Participants in the study included 70 aerobically trained overweight and obese women who were instructed not to change their diet or physical activity. They took either 30 mL of caraway aqueous extract or a placebo daily for 90 days.

At the end of the study period, the caraway seed group had reductions in waist circumference of 2.7 inches and thigh circumference of 2.1 inches when compared with baseline. They also had reductions in waist-to-hip ratio and mid-upper arm circumference when compared with baseline and the placebo group.

The placebo group had no significant reductions in waist size, although they did have reductions in thigh circumference and mid-upper arm circumference when compared to their own baseline values. However, the reductions were much less than those seen in the caraway seed group.

Researchers from the University of Malaya in Malaysia, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Iran, and Natural Products Inc the US conducted the study. It was published online ahead of print on March 14, 2016, in Phytotherapy Research.

Caraway has been used in folk medicines for digestive problems including heartburn, bloating, gas, loss of appetite, and mild stomach and intestinal spasms. The seed itself is often used in baking and as a spice.