Cumin is an aromatic spice that has been used for millennia mostly in middle eastern, Indian and Mexican dishes. With its peppery flavor and aroma, cumin is perfectly suited for adding warm, somewhat nutty notes to all sorts of dishes.
This ancient spice has many health benefits, below are top 5 proven health benefits of Cumin, scientifically known as Cuminum Cyminum:
- Helps with digestion (1): Cumin helps digestion. Cuminaldehyde, the aroma of cumin, the main component of its essential oil, activates our salivary glands in our mouth, which facilitates the primary digestion of food. Thymol, another compound present in cumin, stimulates the glands that secrete acids, bile and enzymes responsible for complete digestion of the food in the stomach and the intestines. Cumin is also Carminative, meaning it relieves you from gas troubles and thereby improves digestion and appetite.
- May help prevent diabetes (2): Although research is still ongoing, early studies report that cumin, among a number of other spices, can have a powerful effect in preventing diabetes by significant reduction in blood glucose. C. cyminum treatment also resulted in a significant reduction in plasma and tissue cholesterol, phospholipids, free fatty acids and triglycerides. Human testing is ongoing, but early reports show that cumin can be a very powerful tool in the battle against diabetes!
- Aid anemia (3): Cumin is very rich in iron, 4mg or about 22% of daily requirement in 1tbsp or 6 grams. Iron is the main constituent of hemoglobin in the red blood corpuscles of blood. It is the hemoglobin which transfers oxygen (as the oxide of iron) to the body’s cells and whose deficiency causes anemia. So, cumin can be a nutritious additive to the daily diet for anemic people and avoid the symptoms of anemia like fatigue, anxiety, cognitive malfunction, and digestive issues.
- Helps with Concentration and Cognitive Malfunction (3, 4): amount of iron in cumin not only helps with anemia, but also helps other organs and brain. Hemoglobin rich blood will transfer adequate amounts of oxygen to the organs and the brain, leading to optimal performance of those bodily systems. Proper amounts of oxygen and iron in the brain lead to increased cognitive performance and a decrease in cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
- Boosts Immunity (3,5): As discussed above, an abundance of iron, vitamin-C, and vitamin-A in cumin boosts our immune system in a number of ways. Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants that we have in our body, and it also stimulates the function and activity of white blood cells. As an antioxidant, vitamin C fights the detrimental effects of free radicals, which are the dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals that lead to many diseases and inflammation in our body.
For health benefits of Ginger, please refer to my post 5 proven health benefits of Ginger and Turmeric.
Here is my Cumin/ ginger tea recipe:
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp freshly graded ginger
- 8 Oz boiling water
- Optional: Raw Honey to taste
- Add Cumin and ginger to a T-sac or a tea diffuser
- Place a small saucepan, or teapot over low heat
- Place your T-sac containing cumin and ginger in the pot
- Pour boiling water over the T-sac
- Let’s simmer for about 5 minutes
- Enjoy it warm
Leave me a comment and let me know how you enjoyed this simple yet powerful recipe.
Here is the video instruction from my Facebook Live today.
Stay healthy and happy