Do you lean towards spices when you’re cooking, or do you prefer your food plain with just salt? Well, if you’re the latter, then this post might just change your mind about cumin.
If you’re still not convinced about using cumin in your food by the end of this, then you could make your own “jeera water” by mixing a spoon full of cumin powder in boiling water, allowing it to cool and then drinking it on an empty stomach. You will still reap the full benefits of the spice.
Cumin is native to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and Egypt. It comes from the Cuminum cyminum plant. Currently, it is grown in many places since it is easy to grow and adapts well to many climates.
Cumin was a favourite of the Romans and even mentioned in the Old Testament. During medieval times, it was favoured in Europe and Britain, but it seems to have gradually lost favour in those places. The increasing popularity of Mexican influenced foods is boosting the sale of Cumin.
Today, cumin s popular in many parts of the world. Cumin seeds are a key ingredient in Pilau so it is good to know the great benefits cumin has. 5 Different Ways To Cook Pilau
Here are the benefits of cumin.
- Helps to regulate blood sugar
Diabetes is a common lifestyle disease in our world today, where the body glucose levels are too high. More and more people are now seeking organic methods of dealing with the condition, and cumin is one of them. Cumin water stimulates insulin production in the body, which helps to keep the blood sugar levels in check.
According to a 2016 study, it was established how administering cumin supplements in patients with Type II Diabetes could decrease the serum levels of insulin, fasting blood sugar and glycosylated haemoglobin. Also, it could control the complications of type 2 diabetes in these patients.
- Weight loss
If you are looking to lose some weight, then you might want to try out cumin powder. The spice contains a unique active ingredient called thymoquinone, which is a naturally occurring chemical that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
This compound can target free radicals in your body, assisting your body in cleansing itself of toxins. Over time, the effects of cumin can work together with a healthy diet and exercise to decrease fat deposits and reduce inflammation in your body.
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- Lowers cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that’s found in all the cells in your body. The body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Interestingly, the body makes all the cholesterol it needs.
Certain foods like eggs, cheese, bacon, and fast foods are high in cholesterol. When your cholesterol is high, you risk getting atherosclerosis, heart attack, and even a stroke. That’s why you should control your cholesterol levels, and cumin can help you to do that.
In one study on obese and overweight women, some women ate 3 g cumin powder with yoghurt twice a day for three months and some ate yoghurt without cumin. Women who ate the cumin had lower cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL levels, along with increased HDL cholesterol (the good kind) after the three-month study.
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- Improves the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (I.B.S)
This is an intestinal disorder causing pain in the stomach, wind, diarrhoea, and constipation. The signs and symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhoea or constipation, or both. The good news? Cumin can improve these symptoms.
In a study, fifty-seven patients with IBS and no other accompanying illness were observed. Twenty drops per day of Cumin essential oil were administered for included patients. Abdominal pain, bloating, incomplete defecation, faecal urgency, and presence of mucus discharge in stool were statistically significant decreased during and after treatment with Cumin extract.
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- Lowers stress levels
In our world today, there are a lot of people suffering from stress and anxiety disorders. It may be necessary to turn to organic and naturally occurring compounds to help us deal with these problems.
A study that was done on rats examined the effect of cumin on stress levels. Daily administration of cumin an hour before induction of stress inhibited the stress-induced urinary biochemical changes without altering the levels in normal control groups. The study substantiates that its traditional use as a culinary spice in foods is beneficial and scientific in combating stress and related disorders.
Lifestyle: 5 Simple Tips For Managing Stress
- Memory loss
There are several reasons why a person could lose their memory or even parts of it. Medical conditions such as seizures, epilepsy, heart bypass surgery, and depression can impact memory. Other than this, forgetfulness can be a normal part of ageing.
The good news is that cumin can deal with this condition. In a study, After 20 healthy men in their 50’s took two 500 mg capsules of pure ground black seed powder each evening for 9 weeks. By the end of it, they tested markedly better on measures of memory, attention, and cognition than 20 placebo-popping counterparts. Another study found that the animals who received cumin extract had a better and faster recall.
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- Anticancer properties
Almost everyone knows someone who has suffered from cancer. The disease is characterized by abnormal cells that grow uncontrollably and destroy body tissue. As the world continues to research and experiment on curative measures, there have been backed-up claims that cumin contains anti-cancer properties.
In a study, rats that were fed with cumin were protected from colon cancer. The spice contains detoxifying and chemopreventive properties. As per a different study conducted by the Cancer Research Laboratory USA, the active compound cumin aldehyde found in cumin aids helps to slow down the growth of a tumour. Cancer – Here Are Some Of The Causes And Symptoms To Look Out For
Here are some other spices you should be taking regularly – cloves, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric and garlic. Also check out Turning to nature for relief: 8 common spices that act as medicines
