Cumin is a spice made from the seeds of the plant Cuminum cyminum. Many typical and traditional dishes use cumin, especially foods from its native regions in the Mediterranean and Southwest Asia, where it comes from. And its flavor has been described as earthy, nutty, spicy, and warm.
Also, cumin has long been used in traditional medicine.
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Modern studies have confirmed some of the health benefits cumin is traditionally known for, including promoting digestion and reducing foodborne infections.
Research has also revealed some new benefits, such as promoting weight loss and improving blood sugar and cholesterol control.
promotes digestion
The most common traditional use of cumin is for indigestion.
In fact, modern research has confirmed that cumin can help speed up normal digestion.
For example, it can increase the activity of digestive enzymes, which can speed up digestion.
cumin too increases the release of bile from the liver. Bile helps digest fats and certain nutrients in the intestine.
In one study, 57 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) reported better symptoms after taking concentrated cumin for two weeks.
It is a rich source of iron
Cumin seeds are naturally rich in iron.
A teaspoon ground cumin contains 1.4 mg of iron, or 17.5% of the RDA for adults.
The lack of iron it is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies, affecting up to 20% of the world’s population and up to 10 in 1,000 people in wealthier nations.
In particular, children need iron to support growth and young women need iron to replace blood lost during menstruation.
Few foods are as iron dense as cumin.. This makes it a good source of iron, even when used in small quantities as a condiment.
Contains beneficial plant compounds
Cumin contains many plant compounds that are linked to possible health benefitsincluding terpenes, phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids. Several of these function as antioxidantswhich are chemicals that reduce damage to your body by free radicals.
Free radicals are basically lonely electrons. Electrons like to be in pairs and when they separate they become unstable.
These lone or «free» electrons rob fellow electrons of other chemicals in your body. This process is called oxidation.»
The oxidation of fatty acids in the arteries leads to clogged arteries and heart disease. oxidation also leads to inflammation in diabetes, Y DNA oxidation may contribute to cancer.
The antioxidants such as cumin they give an electron to a free radical’s lone electron, making it more stable. (14Trusted Source)
Cumin’s antioxidants likely account for some of its health benefits
can help with diabetes
Some of the components of cumin have shown promise in helping to treat diabetes.
A clinical study showed that a concentrated cumin supplement improved early indicators of diabetes in Overweight peoplecompared to a placebo.
Cumin also contains components that They counteract some of the long-term effects of diabetes.
One of the ways that diabetes damages cells in the body is through the end products of advanced glycation (AGE).
They occur spontaneously in the bloodstream when blood sugar levels are high for long periods of time, such as in diabetes. AGEs are created when sugars bind to proteins and disrupt their normal function.
ages probably are responsible for damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and small blood vessels in diabetes. (17Trusted Source)
Cumin contains several components that reduce AGEsat least in test-tube studies.
Although these studies tested the effects of concentrated cumin supplementsroutine use of cumin as a seasoning may help control blood sugar in the diabetes.
It is not yet clear what is responsible for these effects, or how much cumin is needed to cause benefits.
Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay
Can improve blood cholesterol
Cumin has also improved blood cholesterol in clinical studies.
In one study, 75 mg of cumin taken twice a day for eight weeks unhealthy blood triglycerides decreased.
In another studylevels of oxidized «bad» LDL cholesterol decreased by almost 10% in patients who took cumin extract for a month and a half.
A study of 88 women looked at whether cumin affected levels of «good» HDL cholesterol. Those who took 3 grams of cumin with yogurt twice a day for three months had higher HDL levels than those who ate yogurt without it.
It is not known whether cumin used as a seasoning in the diet has the same blood cholesterol benefits as the supplements used in these studies.
Also, not all studies agree with this effect. One study found no change in blood cholesterol in participants who took a cumin supplement.
Can prevent foodborne illness
One of the traditional functions of cumin in the seasoning may have been food safety.
Many seasonings, including cumin, appear to have antimicrobial properties that may reduce the risk of foodborne infections.
Various components of cumin reduce the growth of foodborne bacteria and certain types of infectious fungi.
When digested, cumin releases a compound called megalomycinwhat’s wrong with it antibiotic properties.
In addition, a test-tube study showed that cumin reduces the drug resistance of certain bacteria.
Can help with drug addiction
Narcotics dependency is a growing concern internationally.
Opioid narcotics create addiction by hijacking the normal sense of desire and reward in the brain. This leads to a continuous use or more.
Studies in mice have shown that cumin components reduce addictive behavior and withdrawal symptoms.
Nevertheless, Much more research is needed to determine if this effect would be useful in humans.
The next steps include find the specific ingredient that caused this effect and test if it works in humans.
Can fight inflammation
Test-tube studies have shown that cumin extracts inhibit inflammation.
There are several components of cumin that may have anti-inflammatory effects, but researchers don’t yet know which ones are most important.
Plant compounds in several spices have been shown to reduce levels of a key inflammatory marker, NF-kappaB.
There is not enough information at this time to know if dietary cumin or cumin supplements are helpful in treating inflammatory conditions.