Important information about cumin, its benefits and risks

 Cumin is the second most popular spice in the world, and especially it is used frequently in the countries of the Middle East, after black pepper, and it is a flowering plant that is native to Asia, Africa and Europe.

Cumin is bought in the form of dried seeds or powder, and cumin is used in many blends that are used in cooking foods, especially Asian, Mexican, Indian and African foods.

Regardless of the use of cumin in cooking, it has been used medicinally for thousands of years because it helps digestion, curb coughing, and relieve pain, and in Tunisia, for example, people use it to fight infection and reduce blood pressure. Some of its famous benefits.

Since cumin contains important nutrients that aid digestion, improve the functioning of the immune system, treat skin disorders, anemia, carbuncles, cancer, and respiratory diseases, so come and take a tour of its benefits:

1- Helps regulate digestion:

Cumin contains components that aid digestion and alleviate emergency problems facing the stomach, small intestine and colon, and cumin helps expel gases, especially in infants, and cumin is used in the treatment of indigestion and nausea during pregnancy.

Cumin also relieves stomach pain, acute diarrhea, and symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, because cumin is very effective in improving the symptoms of this syndrome, such as nausea, cramps, and abdominal gases, and even the smell of cumin itself benefits the digestive system because the volatile cumin oil contains an essential organic compound called cominaldehyde It activates the salivary glands in the mouth, which facilitates the digestion process, and also there is in cumin the compound Timol, which promotes the elimination of bile secretions and enzymes responsible for complete digestion in the stomach and intestine.

2- It boosts the immune system function:

Cumin contains a package of nutrients that contribute in one way or another to raising the body's immunity, and among these elements we mention vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, antioxidants and others.

3- Cumin may help treat asthma and bronchitis:

Cumin contains an ideal mixture consisting of caffeine (a stimulating agent) and aromatic oils (antiseptics), which makes it hit two targets at the same time, as the mixture acts as an anti-decongestant and expectorant, which means that it relieves the disorders associated with asthma and inflammation of the airways, and also helps The mixture facilitates the expulsion of phlegm and mucous secretions from the respiratory system by sneezing, coughing and spitting.

4- Cumin may reduce the risk of developing diabetes

A study published in the Journal of Pharmacological Research revealed that cumin seeds may help prevent diabetes, and the study was conducted on a group of mice with diabetes, and they were given a dose of cumin seeds daily for six weeks, and after closely following those mice it was found that their glucose level It decreased significantly, but in humans, a documented study showed that included a number of adults with type 2 diabetes, they were distributed into 3 groups, the first group was given cumin oil at a dose of 100 mg per day, and the second group members received a daily dose of 50 mg per day, and the third was given A placebo, and after 8 weeks of this pattern, blood tests showed that the subjects who took cumin oil had lower levels of sugar, insulin and glycated hemoglobin in the blood compared to the control group that took placebo.

5- Benefits of cumin for diet (weight loss - slimming)

Recent studies indicate that cumin may be beneficial in reducing weight. In a study that included a group of overweight adults, these were divided into two groups, the first was given a cumin drug, and the second took a placebo, and after 8 weeks, the researchers found that members of a drug group Cumin recorded significant weight loss.

In another reliable source study conducted on obese women who consumed 3 grams of cumin powder with yogurt daily, and after three months the results were promising, as weight decreased, waist circumference decreased, harmful cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased, and the level of good cholesterol increased.

6- Cumin may help fight stress

Cumin may play a role in helping the body process stress, in a study conducted on rats that consumed an extract of cumin before performing a strenuous activity, researchers found that the effects of stress on their bodies were significantly less than when they did not take cumin. As for the secret, scientists believe that cumin is It works as an antioxidant in the fight against stress.

7- Cumin may fight colds

The essential oils contained in cumin help to combat the viruses that are behind the common cold, and also, cumin helps prevent the development of coughs for the worse because it contributes to drying out the excess mucus, except for this and that, the cumin strengthens the immune system, which prevents the aggravation of inflammatory cases.

8- Latency may improve cognitive performance

The richness of cumin with iron helps increase blood flow to various organs including the brain. Which leads to an increase in cognitive performance, and a study done on mice to see the effect of cumin extract on memory found that those who took the extract had a better and faster response.

9- Cumin for pregnant and breastfeeding women

Pregnant women can safely consume cumin as a spice or as a drink, provided that it is consumed in moderation, and when consumed in moderation, the pregnant woman will enjoy its various health benefits, and it is also beneficial for breastfeeding women, as cumin contains timol that contributes to increasing the flow of milk in breastfeeding women.

10- Cumin may benefit the skin

Cumin protects the skin from fungal and microbial infections due to its antiseptic, anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties, and cumin is well-known for its vitamin E that maintains skin youthfulness and fights the signs of aging caused by aging.

11- Boiled cumin is good for the stomach

You may be wondering about the benefits of boiled cumin, the truth is that cumin seeds are good for the stomach, and boiled cumin is useful because it helps get rid of acidity and bloating and relieve indigestion, and cumin seeds act as a pain reliever, and it is especially effective in treating stomach and abdominal pain.

* How to prepare boiled cumin:

Take a bowl and add a teaspoon of cumin seeds to it. Heat it a little over a low heat for 5 seconds. Pour 250 ml of drinking water and let it boil. After boiling, leave it covered and do not touch it for 5 minutes. Strain it in your cup of tea and enjoy it warm. To your taste, you can add honey or a pinch of salt in it.

Latency risk

1- Cumin consumption in cooking is considered safe for the majority, but there are those who suffer from allergies .. it is better here to avoid it. Some people experience nausea, dizziness, and stomach pain after taking cumin extract.

2- People who suffer from diabetes, especially those who take anti-diabetic drugs, should use cumin with caution because it may cause fluctuations in the level of sugar in the blood.

3- With regard to tuberculosis patients who take antibiotics to treat it, they should beware of taking cumin seeds, because research conducted on mice revealed that it increases the level of these drugs in the blood.

Important note when buying and using cumin:

It is preferable to buy cumin seeds whole and not crushed, because grinding it goes through some of its contents, especially volatile oil, and the cumin is kept in an airtight container away from light and heat.

 There is one correct way to use cumin, is to put its seeds in a bowl, add hot water to it and leave it for a short time, and then drink it, but boiling cumin in water is not preferred because it flies some of its volatile compounds.