Cumin Seeds

Cumin Seeds has a distinctive yellow-green-brown color with a sharp, pungent, and slightly sweet flavor. Cumin seeds have been used heavily in herbal medicine, and they are loaded with beneficial nutrients.

Cumin seeds not only add taste to food but also are very beneficial for body. Also known as jeera, these cumin seeds have been extensively used in culinary preparations in the Indian subcontinent since ages.

It is a rich source of iron and hence very beneficial for anaemics as well as lactating mothers and pregnant women, who tend to need iron more than others. It is a great aid in digestion and prevents indigestion, flatulence, diarrhoea, nausea and morning sickness. For immediate relief from acidity, chew a pinch-full of raw cumin seeds.

⦁ It doesn’t let cough to form and collect in the respiratory system. Since it is supposed to be hot, it dries up all the mucous.

⦁ It would be beneficial to sip on a concoction of cumin seeds and water. Boil a handful of cumin seeds along with water. Drinking this water wards off common colds and keeps the digestive system on track. Many South-Indian households drink only ‘jeera-pani’ instead of sipping on plain boiled water.

⦁ Cumin seeds help in stimulating the secretion of enzymes in the pancreas which in turn help in the absorption of nutrients.

⦁ Cumin seeds also boost the power of the liver to flush out toxins from the body.

⦁ Cumin seeds also contain anticarcinogenic properties, including vitamin A and vitamin C. A study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology in 1992 suggested that cumin seeds may have valuable anticancer effects.

⦁ Cumin seeds also help treat respiratory disorders such as bronchitis and asthma. The essential oils in cumin create an effective anti-congestive and expectorant that loosens up phlegm and mucus accumulation in the respiratory tract.

⦁ Cumin seeds are also thought to increase cognitive performance and improve memory-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Stress is also known to causes forgetfulness and confusion.

⦁ Cumin seeds are also a good spice that diabetics should consider. A study published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism in 2005 found that cumin oil lowered blood sugar levels in rats induced with diabetes.