*Editor’s Note: No website is designed to, and can not be construed to, provide actual medical advice, professional diagnosis or treatment to you or anyone. Elephant is not intended as a substitute for medical or professional advice, care and treatment.
Cumin is a regular in Indian kitchens.
A traditional dish can hardly be imagined without it.
At my place, cumin seeds are purchased and powdered at home just to make sure that we get the purest thing. The powder of cumin is then added to various dishes.
This spice or condiment is also used in Latin American, African and Asian countries.
Now the question is, why is it used so extensively in food? The answer is that cumin is good for overall health.
Here are some of the health benefits of cumin seeds:
1. Good for digestion.
Cumin is good at providing relief from problems related to digestion.
Just the aroma of the spice is enough to activate the salivary glands, thus beginning the digestion process.
Whenever I don’t feel hungry, I drink some water that has powdered cumin added to it. It works pretty well!
There is a compound called thymol in cumin that stimulates the secretion of bile, enzymes and acids for the digestion of food in the stomach and intestines.
Cumin also provides relief from gastric trouble. It is known to improve overall digestion and appetite.
When consumed with hot water, cumin seeds provide relief from stomach aches.
2. Helps treat insomnia.
Cumin has a peculiar property. It has a dual nature that makes it work as well as a stimulant and a relaxant. Studies show that good digestion and the right intake of vitamins induces sound sleep.
Cumin is helpful in fulfilling both these factors.
Also, certain compounds in it are hypnotic in nature and have tranquilizing effects that helps in relieving anxiety and stress, which are commonly linked to insomnia.
Doesn’t it sound great for those who are unable to get a good night’s sleep?
3. Cures respiratory disorders.
Cumin has caffeine and essential oils that are a good anti-congestion combination for people who suffer from asthma and bronchitis.
It also helps in loosening phlegm and mucous and helps in eliminating it from the respiratory tract.
Cumin is also known to be helpful in providing relief from the common cold. The common cold is a viral infection and the disinfecting essential oils in cumin help in fighting the infection.
Being rich in iron and vitamin C, cumin is good for a healthy immune system. The antioxidant nature of vitamin C further boosts immunity.
4. Good for lactating mothers.
Being rich in iron, cumin is beneficial for nursing moms, pregnant women and those who have periods. Due to the presence of thymol in cumin, there is an increase in the secretion of milk in lactating mothers.
Cumin also has loads of calcium in it, about 900 mg per 100 grams. It meets 90 percent of the body’s daily need of calcium.
5. Good for those who are anemic.
As mentioned already, cumin is rich in iron. Every 100 grams has 66 mg of iron in it.
Cumin can be added to the diet of those who suffer from anemia and it will set right the symptoms of anemia such as fatigue, cognitive malfunction, digestive issues and anxiety.
6. Wards off skin trouble.
Vitamin E is considered to be good for skin health and preventing the appearance of aging.
This particular vitamin is present in cumin. Moreover, the essential oils in cumin have antifungal and disinfectant properties. This ensures that no fungal or microbial infection affects the skin.
All skin issues are not due to infection, they can also be signs of aging.
Free radicals attack the healthy cells of the body leading to signs of early aging like sagging skin, wrinkles and age spots. In this regard, vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and fights free radical damage. Free radicals are constantly created in the body as byproducts of cellular metabolism.
They need to be eliminated from the body to prevent many serious diseases including cancer and cardiovascular disease.
7. Boosts immunity.
Cumin, being rich in essential oils, vitamin A, vitamin C and iron helps in boosting immunity in several ways.
Vitamin C is a really powerful antioxidant present in the body. It fights free radical damage and wards of several diseases. It also stimulates the function of white blood cells.
So, cumin works well in boosting immunity.
8. Prevents cancer.
Cumin speeds up the secretion of anti-cancer and detoxifying enzymes in the body. It also possesses antioxidants like vitamin A and vitamin C.
This makes it great for warding off cancer, colon cancer in particular.
Owing to the benefits it has to offer, we should all include cumin in our diets!
References:
Relephant:
Five Spices to Rock Your Digestive World.
Author: Tarun Preet
Apprentice Editor: Brandie Smith/Editor: Emily Bartran
Photo: Gustavo Geronimo/Flickr
Facebook is in talks with major corporate media about pulling their content into FB, leaving other sites to wither or pay up if we want to connect with you, our readers. Want to stay connected before the curtain drops? Get our curated, quality newsletters below!
Read 2 Comments and Reply
Read 2 comments and reply