Claim: An Instagram video suggests drinking a concoction prepared by boiling garlic and cumin seeds with lemon extract to burn fat.
Fact: The claim is misleading. The recipe alone cannot burn fat. A balanced diet and good exercise are essential.

An Instagram video about an ‘ancient method’ to burn body fat has gone viral. The video advises boiling two cloves of garlic and a teaspoon of cumin seeds mixed with lemon juice in two cups of water and drinking it on an empty stomach to burn fat.

 
 
 
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Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is misleading.

Dr Raghavendra Cherukku, an interventional cardiologist, explained if the method is useful for burning fat: “There is no single strategy to reduce fat. This strategy has to be supplemented with an intake of healthy food and regular exercise. The antilipidemic property of garlic can help reduce LDL and increase HDL but has no impact on triglycerides.”

Garlic has antioxidant and antibiotic properties, which can aid in other health benefits.

“Some studies done on rats and humans have proved the antilipidemic properties of garlic can help burn fat. However, taking the concoction on an empty stomach can be detrimental for those with gastric issues. Hence it can be taken after eating food,” Dr Raghavendra said.

A balanced diet with high protein and fibre, and low oil and low carbohydrates is essential to reduce triglycerides. Food containing carbohydrates, like maida, gets converted into triglycerides, which cannot be reduced by taking the concoction.

“Most South Indian diets use a lot of oil, around 10-15 tablespoons per day, against the maximum requirement of 2-3 tablespoons per day. Physical exercise for 150 minutes per week and a balanced diet are essential to reduce triglycerides and bad cholesterol,” Dr Raghavendra added.

(This story was originally published by newsmeter.in, and republished by english.varthabharati.in as part of the Shakti Collective)

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Bengaluru: In a formal appeal to the Union Minister for Railways, V. Somanna, Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Samata Vidyalaya, under the leadership of Managing Trustee Prof. Ravivarma Kumar, has requested the renaming of Shivamogga or Sagar Railway Station in honour of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, the founder of the Socialist Movement of India. The appeal aims to commemorate Lohia’s 115th birth anniversary on 23 March 2025.

In the letter, Prof. Ravivarma Kumar highlighted Dr. Lohia’s significant contributions as a freedom fighter, advocate for social justice, and champion of land reforms. The letter recalls Dr. Lohia's pivotal role in the Kagodu Satyagraha, a landmark agitation in Shivamogga district demanding land reforms. Prof. Kumar noted that Lohia’s efforts inspired widespread land reform movements across India, culminating in Karnataka's landmark land reforms under the leadership of former Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs, which benefitted over 15 lakh tenants.

The letter also touched upon Dr. Lohia's role in shaping Indian politics, including his advocacy for non-Congressism, which eventually led to the formation of non-Congress governments in nine states in 1967 and the first non-Congress central government in 1977. His efforts to promote social justice, including reservation for backward classes and women, and his advocacy for gender equality, were also highlighted.

Prof. Kumar emphasised the historical significance of Shivamogga, where Dr. Lohia was arrested at Sagar Railway Station in 1951 during the Kagodu Satyagraha, making it a fitting tribute to name the station after him.

The letter concludes with a plea to Minister Somanna to honour Dr. Lohia’s legacy by renaming either Shivamogga or Sagar Railway Station as "Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Railway Station" on his birth anniversary.