The Middle East is the region of origin for the plant known as cumin (Cuminum cyminum L). It is a low-growing, leafy plant related to parsley and carrots. China, India, and the Mediterranean coasts are where cumin is typically found. The seed of the cumin plant is what the majority of people are familiar with and use in their cooking. But first, let’s clear up the pronunciation of the term cumin before discussing its applications and health advantages.
This is one of those words that the British and Americans pronounce differently, according to the Cambridge Dictionary. This spice is commonly pronounced “kyoo-muhn” in the UK (like the cu in Cubic).
Iran and the Mediterranean region are where it was initially cultivated. The use of cumin as a component in the mummification of Egyptian pharaohs’ bodies dates back 5,000 years. The ancient Greeks kept cumin in its container at the dining table. People have long believed that cumin originated in Western Asia and has been grown there since the time of the Bible.
What is Cumin?
The annual herbaceous plant known as cumin has lace-like blossoms, slender branching stems, and a height of between one and two feet. After three to four months, when the flowers have developed into seeds and are dry and brittle, cumin is ready to be harvested. Typically, cumin seeds are collected by hand.
The dried seed of the Cuminum cyminum plant is used to make the spice known as cumin. Most supermarket stores carry cumin in both whole and ground seed form. It comes in variants of white, green, and brown colours, among others. With its earthy flavour and comforting scent, cumin is a unique spice. Compared to a habanero pepper, which is thought to be 10/10 spicy, cumin is only somewhat considered to be spicy. Cumin is a versatile spice for many foods since some people describe it as having a combination of bitterness and sweetness.
Black cumin seeds, commonly referred to as “black seed,” are actually members of a distinct plant family, descended from buttercups as opposed to carrots. While typical cumin is earthy and occasionally has citrus, flowery, or nutty overtones, this kind has traces of onion, oregano, and black pepper. The majority of this essay will be devoted to common cumin. But we’ll also use black cumin since, as you’ll see, it has a lot of health-promoting properties as well.
Nutritional Value
Energy: 500 kcal
Carbohydrate: 50g
Calcium: 1000mg
Iron: 54mg
Protein: 0g
Total lipid fat: 0g
Advantages of Cumin
- It contains certain antioxidants that are crucial for human health.
- It includes certain anticancer properties.
- It might aid in lowering your cholesterol.
- It can help with IBS symptoms, which are a common problem today.
- It aids diabetic patients in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.
- It benefits you since it has anti-inflammatory qualities.
- Germs and parasites are assisted by cumin.
Potential Benefits of Cumin
Weight Loss
Those who are trying to lose weight could find cumin helpful. In a 2015 study involving overweight individuals, the benefits of cumin on weight loss were contrasted with those of a weight-loss supplement and a placebo. The study found that after eight weeks, the cumin and weight-loss medication groups had significantly decreased weight. In the cumin group, the participant’s insulin levels were also lowered.
According to studies, women who want to reduce weight should consume 3 grams of cumin powder every day along with a healthy diet. Triglycerides, BMI, and weight all showed improvement at the conclusion of the three months.
Best Cumin Recipes for Weight Loss
Cumin Powder
Drink some water that has been heated up and spiced with cumin powder after meals.
Cumin Seeds
Cumin seeds should be soaked for five to six hours in the water, after which they should be added to boiling water and heated through. You may improve the flavour by adding lemon. It would be beneficial if you drank this beverage on an empty stomach.
Powdered cumin and yoghurt
Yoghurt that has been spiced up with cumin powder is a satisfying snack.
Controls blood sugar levels
Consuming cumin seeds frequently can help you control your blood sugar. The body produces more insulin when cumin is consumed, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels. According to studies, cumin seed crude ethanol extract may be utilized as an alternate diabetic treatment.
Studies have also found that black cumin, particularly when used with oral antidiabetic medications for the treatment of diabetes, may help reduce high blood sugar.
And a 2016 study comparing the effects of vitamin E and cumin essential oil on HbA1C, a long-term marker of blood sugar control in 95 individuals with diabetes, was published in the International Journal of Molecular and Cellular Medicine. Three groups supplemented every day for three months with either 800 IU of vitamin E, 25 mg of cumin oil, or a placebo.
Measurements were made of blood sugar control markers. And it was found that compared to vitamin E or a placebo, cumin had a wider and more notable favourable effect on blood sugar regulation.
Contains Beneficial Plant Compound
Terpenes, phenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids are just a few of the many plant substances found in cumin that have been associated with potential health benefits.
Several of these include antioxidant properties, which are substances that lessen the harm free radicals do to your body. In essence, free radicals are solitary electrons. When electrons separate, they become unstable because they like to be in pairs.
These single, or “free,” electrons rob other chemical compounds in your body of their electron companions. “Oxidation” is the term for this action. Heart disease and blocked arteries are caused by the oxidation of fatty acids in your arteries. In diabetes, oxidation also causes inflammation, and DNA oxidation has been linked to malignancy.
Clinical trials have shown that cumin lowers blood cholesterol
One study found that taking 75 mg of cumin twice a day for eight weeks reduced dangerous blood triglycerides. In a different trial, individuals ingesting cumin extract for 1.5 months saw a roughly 10% reduction in their levels of oxidized “bad” LDL cholesterol.
In one investigation, the effects of cumin on “good” HDL cholesterol levels were examined in 88 women. For three months, those who consumed yogurt without adding 3 grams of cumin had lower HDL levels than those who did.
It is unknown whether cumin used as a condiment in food offers the same advantages for lowering blood cholesterol as the supplements employed in this research.
Rich Source of Iron
Iron is naturally abundant in cumin seeds. The amount of iron in one teaspoon of ground cumin, or 1.4 milligrammes, is 17.5 percent of the adult RDI. One of the most prevalent nutritional deficiencies, iron deficiency affects up to 20% of the global population and up to 10% of the population in the richest countries.
Iron is especially important for children’s growth and for young women’s replacement of blood lost during menstruation. Cumin contains more iron than most meals. This makes it an excellent source of iron, even when used sparingly as a spice.
Conclusion
A crucial ingredient in curry powder and other spice powder concoctions is cumin. It is also a component in pickle and chutney blends. Cuminol, an alcohol found in cumin seeds, gives them their distinctive aroma. The culinary sector has long used cumin seed-based aromatic oil to flavour curries, liquor, and cordials, among other things. It possesses therapeutic qualities. It is used as a carminative, stomachic, astringent, and antidiarrheal in numerous Ayurvedic and veterinary treatments. Biliousness, morning sickness, indigestion, atonic dyspepsia, diarrhoea, malabsorption syndrome, and flatulent colic can all be treated with cumin seeds.
Numerous benefits of cumin for health have been proven. Some of these have been known for ages, while others are just now coming to light. Utilizing cumin as a spice boosts consumption of antioxidants, aids in digestion, supplies iron, may enhance blood sugar regulation, and may lower the risk of food-borne infections.
Although additional research is required, taking supplements in greater quantities has been associated with reduced blood cholesterol and weight loss.
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