A 38-year-old woman says she lost 40 pounds in a single year by simply upping her intake of certain spices.

Nagina Abdullah tells Fox News she tried the technique after years of unsuccessful yo-yo dieting and becoming a mother.

"I was always counting my calories, I felt deprived all the time, I felt hungry,” said Abdullah, who added that taking a simple afternoon stroll with her children left her feeling rundown.

Abdullah said she has finally found success by making a simple addition to her diet: spices.
“If you have 1 teaspoon of cumin [every day] for three months, you could lose up to three times as much weight as you would have otherwise,” Abdullah said.

To share her experiences, she has started MasalaBody.com, a website where she posts tips and recipes via a blog and a newsletter.

Abdullah said she uses spices when preparing each meal of the day. For example, she mixes cinnamon into her breakfast smoothies to manage insulin levels and keep blood sugar low, and sprinkles nuts with red chili powder, which increases metabolism, as well as salt, pepper and cumin.

For dinner, she marinates chicken overnight with cumin, ginger, garlic, jalapenos, smoked paprika and coriander. She referenced her cauliflower, pea and carrot medley with turmeric, which reduces inflammation.

Experts say spices can be beneficial for weight loss, but an active lifestyle and eating well overall are key.