Cumin seeds or better known as “Jeera” in Indian households is commonly used spice used for culinary purposes. Apart from its distinct flavor, it also has many benefits to health.
Let’s look into some of the benefits of Cumin seeds:
1. Can aid digestion:
Cumin seeds are one of the most popular natural remedies to treat indigestion and stomach-related issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), diarrhea, etc. Cumin seeds help speed up digestion by acting upon the digestive enzyme and increasing their activity. It helps the liver release bile and can also promote better digestive functioning in general.
2. Helps in weight loss:
Cumin is well-known for its effects on weight. It helps improve digestion and aid weight loss. It can help reduce the levels of unwanted lipids (fats) in the body, hence contributing to weight loss.
3. Helps boost memory and cognitive functioning:
Cumin seeds are helpful in boosting memory and improving cognitive functioning. It helps the body by working on the central nervous system. When the central nervous system is stimulated memory power and cognitive functioning increases and improves over time.
4. Can boost immune system functioning:
Cumin seeds are rich in antioxidants and these antioxidants are very essential in order to boost body immunity and immune system functioning. Antioxidants can help fight diseases and oxidative stress damage to the body by combating free radical (unstable molecules that can cause harm to the healthy molecules in the body) damage.
5. Can help control blood sugar levels:
Consuming cumin seeds is beneficial to people with diabetes as it can help bring high sugar levels under control, as it can help stimulate the production of insulin (a hormone that lowers the glucose or sugar levels in the blood) in the body, in turn keeping the body’s blood sugar in check and under control. READ MORE – NIGHTTIME HAIR CARE ROUTINE for hair growth
6. Other general benefits:
Can help fight cancer: Consuming cumin is known to have anti-cancer properties as it helps in keeping cancer cells from multiplying, it also has antioxidant properties.
Has anti-bacterial properties: Cumin seeds have antibacterial properties that can kill harmful bacteria and protect the immune system from diseases.
Has anti-inflammatory properties: Consuming these seeds can help reduce pain and inflammation or swelling in the body and promote quicker healing.
Can help lower high cholesterol levels: These seeds can reduce the levels of harmful lipids (fats) in our body, in turn lowering high levels of cholesterol and bringing it under control over time.
You can consume cumin by adding it into your dishes or you can also have it as cumin water. Here’s how you can make it in two ways:
Boiled cumin water:
Ingredients:
1 tsp cumin seeds
1.5 cups water
Method 1:
Into a heating pot, add in the water and the cumin seeds. Let this come to a boil, then lower the flame and let it boil for 5 to 6 minutes on low flame. Then, increase the flame and give it one final boil before turning it off.
You can either strain this into a cup and have it hot or you can wait for it to cool down and then have it.
Method 2: Another way you can make this is by soaking 1 tsp of cumin seeds into 1 cup of water overnight and then consuming the strained water the next day.
Tips:
Consuming cumin water on an empty stomach early in the morning can be very effective. After you consume the cumin water, do not eat or drink anything for half an hour, for the best effects.
You can also consume the cumin seed along with the water at it is safe to consume. READ MORE – FAT BURNING HERBS – Herbs That Can Help You Lose Weight
Caution:
Even though cumin is considered safe for all, pregnant women and lactating mothers, those who have bleeding disorders, those people with diabetes (unless consumed in moderate quantities), and people who are undergoing surgery, need to avoid consuming cumin seeds.