Health Benefits of Cumin Powder
Health Benefits of Cumin Powder
Native to Asia and the Middle East,
cumin is a flowering plant in the Apiaceae family. Many different cultures use
its seeds in their food in both pulverized and whole forms. Most supermarket
stores have cumin in whole seed and ground form. It comes in a variety of
colors, including white, green, and brown. As a spice, cumin (Jeera) offers a
toasty scent and a flavor that is earthy. Black cumin seeds, Nigella sativa,
popularly known as "black seed," are technically members of a
distinct plant family, descended from buttercups rather than carrots. Compared
to plain cumin, black chocolate has a more peppery flavor. It has a powerful
impact on improving health. Iron, calcium, magnesium, and manganese are among
the minerals that are abundant in cumin and black cumin. A few omega-3 and -6
fatty acids are also present. Antioxidants found in abundance in cumins may
reduce inflammation and guard the body against oxidative damage. These
antioxidants include phenols, terpenes, alkaloids, and flavonoids.
What is cumin powder?
Cumin is a popular spice is made by powdering dry
roasted cumin seeds in a grinder. Cumin is a flowering plant belonging to the
family Apiaceae and native to southwestern Asia, including the Middle East. Its
seeds of the Cuminum cyminum plant are used in many dishes around the world,
especially in Southwest Asia and the Mediterranean. Cumin has an earthy, spicy,
warm, and nutty flavor when added to dishes. People use cumin in the form of
seeds and also as ground powder. Furthermore, cumin and cumin powder have been
in use for thousands of years in traditional medicine. Many recent studies now
support the claims of cumin’s health benefits.
Nutritional Facts of Cumin Powder
Cumin is an excellent source of
manganese, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and calcium. There are several vitamins
present in it, such as vitamins A, C, E, K, B6, niacin, riboflavin, and
thiamine. According to data from the US Department of Agriculture’s National
Nutrient Database, cumin is rich in many minerals such as potassium, zinc, and
copper. At the same time, it is also
very low in sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fats.
Cumin powder health benefits
1. Cumin powder helps promote digestion
The most common use of cumin powder
has been in digestion-related issues. There are many studies that have
confirmed the role of cumin powder in promoting healthy digestion. For
instance, cumin powder is believed to boost the activity of digestive enzymes
to help speed up the process of digestion.
At the same time, cumin powder
increases the production of bile from the liver, while helps in the efficient
digestion of fats and other nutrients in the gut.
A study carried out by the Tehran
University of Medical Sciences in Iran found that patients with irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS) reported significant improvement in their symptoms after taking
concentrated cumin powder for two weeks.
When it comes to digestive issues,
traditional medicine practitioners have been recommending cumin for years now
for the treatment of diarrhea.
2. Cumin powder may help in diabetes
Cumin powder is believed to have
properties that may help in the treatment of diabetes. A clinical study has
recently shown that concentrated cumin powder in supplement form helps improve
the early indicators of diabetes in overweight people, as compared to a
placebo.
Studies have also shown that cumin
powder contains substances that help counter some of the long-term effects of
diabetes. One of the known ways in which diabetes damages the cells in the body
is through advanced glycation end (AGEs) products that are manufactured
spontaneously in the blood when the blood sugar levels remain high over long
time periods. Sugars in the bloodstream
attach to proteins to create AGEs and disrupt the normal functioning of the
proteins. AGEs are thought to be responsible for damage caused to kidneys,
small blood vessels, eyes, and nerves in diabetic patients.
Several test-tube studies have
shown that cumin powder contains many components that help decrease the
formation of AG Es. While these test-tube studies focused on the beneficial
effects of concentrated cumin supplements, it is also believed that regularly
using cumin in any form can help control blood sugar in people with diabetes,
and also help lower the risk of developing diabetes in people who are at high
risk.
However, it is not exactly clear as
to what is the mechanism through which cumin powder helps in diabetes or how
much cumin is precisely needed to experience the benefits.
3. Cumin powder may boost the immune system
Cumin seeds are a rich source of
iron. One teaspoon of cumin powder contains 1.4 milligrams of iron, which is
17.5 percent of the Recommended Daily Intake of adults.
Iron is a mineral that plays many vital roles
in the body. Iron is an integral part of hemoglobin that transports oxygen from
the lungs to all body cells. It is also
needed by key enzyme systems for energy production and metabolism. Furthermore,
iron is instrumental in keeping your immune system healthy. Iron is
particularly critical for menstruating women, who lose iron every month during
menses. Furthermore, growing children and teens have increased needs for iron,
as do women who are pregnant or lactating.
Iron-deficiency anemia happens in
the event you don’t have enough iron in your body (primarily in your
bloodstream ). Moreover, iron-deficiency anemia may eventually lead to
exhaustion, weakness, and/or shortness of breath. Lots of people with
iron-deficient anemia reveal clear signs and symptoms of anemia early on, while
others may not show any symptoms whatsoever.
It has been seen that iron
deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies that affects nearly
20 percent of the global population. Children, especially, require iron for proper
growth. Young women also need iron to make up for the blood that is lost during
menstruation.
There are very few foods that are
as rich in iron as cumin. This makes cumin an excellent source of iron, even
when it is used in small doses and just as a seasoning.
4. Cumin powder helps improve blood cholesterol levels
Cumin powder plays a role in
improving blood cholesterol levels. A clinical study has shown that taking 75
mg of cumin powder twice daily for a period of eight weeks reduces the levels
of unhealthy blood triglycerides. Another study found that the levels of bad
LDL cholesterol went down by ten percent in patients who took cumin powder for
one and a half months.
Another research study involving 88
women participants focused on whether cumin powder also improves the levels of
good HDL cholesterol. The participants were given 3 grams of cumin with yogurt
two times a day for a period of three months. The participants who ate yogurt
with cumin powder had significantly higher levels of HDL cholesterol as
compared to those who just had plain yogurt.
5. Cancer Prevention
Cumin seeds may also have
anti-carcinogenic properties. In one study, cumin was demonstrated to protect
laboratory animals from growing gut or liver tumors. These cancer-protective
properties may be due to its free radical scavenging abilities and it’s the
ability to improve the liver’s detoxification enzymes.
6. Respiratory Support
There are many causes to think
about with respiratory issues, such as stress, inflammation, airborne toxicity,
allergens, and smoking. Fortunately, there are also some natural methods for
treating respiratory distress. Cumin offers an effective natural remedy to
encourage wholesome respiration. An important reason why cumin works as
respiratory support relates to inflammation. Cumin seeds have been shown to
possess anti-inflammatory properties. Respiratory challenges are generally
wrought with inflammation inside the lung system–such as the lungs, the
trachea, and the bronchi.
Cumin side effects
Cumin may sensitize the skin to
light and may cause low blood sugar. Cumin seeds are known for their
gas-relieving properties but may be responsible for causing heartburn. Cumin
seeds are known to facilitate the eviction of gas to the gastrointestinal tract
resulting in heartburn.
Summary
Many of the health advantages of
cumin have even been scientifically established. While some of these advantages
of cumin powder have long been recognized, others are just now coming to light.
Regular consumption of cumin in any form helps increase the body's intake of
antioxidants, improves digestion, supplies iron, lowers blood cholesterol, and
also aids blood sugar control.
Although further research is
required to confirm the mechanism, taking supplements with larger quantities of
cumin powder has been associated to weight loss.
Thank you for reading our Heath Tips;
Always consult your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider with any
questions you may have regarding a medical condition, procedure, or treatment,
whether it is a prescription medication, over-the-counter drug, vitamin,
supplement, or herbal alternative.
Source :https://www.nourishdoc.com/nutrition/cumin-powder-nutrition-health-benefits