Benefits of Cumin
We have been using cumin in our food over long periods of time. It is used as a spice in various dishes or in preparation of flavored water. We even have cumin after a meal in order to digest the food that we eat. Most people know that cumin has magical benefits but most don’t know what these benefits are. Also, there is a misconception that drinking cumin-flavored water is enough to get the benefits of cumin.
Cumin is the seed of a shrub grown in India and Middle East. The dried seeds are brought to use. India is one of the largest exporters of cumin.
Vitamins of Cumin
Cumin has abundant amounts of vitamins and minerals (Vitamin A, calcium, vitamin B complex and vitamin E) and antioxidants known as apigenin and luteolin present in it. The benefits from these antioxidants are what we greatly get from consuming cumin. The most important health benefits are due to their antibacterial property. The E. Coli are bacteria that commonly affect our body (most common bacteria seen in stool) and cause infections like gastritis or enteritis which is infection of the stomach and recurrent urinary infection.
It is seen that recurrent urinary infection occurs in women after a certain age, which is caused by E. Coli bacteria. Cumin helps prevent this infection from E. Coli bacteria. If you consume a small amount of cumin every day, the recurring urinary infection due to E. Coli can be prevented. Also, the problems that the bacteria create in the stomach can be prevented.
How Cumin Prevents Cancer ?
The multiplication of cancer cells is said to be controlled by cumin. The antioxidants named apigenin and luteolin reduce the multiplication of the cancer cells in the stomach, liver and intestine. So people who are undergoing treatment for cancer can also include a fixed amount of cumin in their diet to limit the multiplication of cancer cells and quickly bring the body back to a healthy state.
Regular intake of cumin is found to control the serum cholesterol levels. In studies done in 2013 with placebo and cumin, the LDL cholesterol, which is the bad cholesterol, was found to reduce and HDL cholesterol increase with the use of cumin.
The dried and powdered cumin is usually used in various dishes or in curd or buttermilk. Having cumin-flavored buttermilk regularly helps reduce cholesterol.
The next important benefit is in the sugar metabolism. It helps correct the insulin metabolism in our body and prevents the condition of hyperinsulinemia, which is a condition due to overactivity of pancreas and the body produces excess amounts of insulin. This condition is seen years before a person turns diabetic. Consuming a certain amount of cumin daily for 2 weeks will help reduce the sugar level greatly according to studies conducted in diabetic patients.
The obesity that occurs due to problems in insulin metabolism can be reduced by use of cumin. Regular consumption of a certain amount of cumin powder before exercise will help in easy burning of fat and hence reduce the body weight quickly.
The normal gastric movements of the stomach and intestine is helped by the use of cumin. People who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome have the urge to pass stool immediately after having any food or when they are tensed. This happens due to the change in speed of their intestinal motility. These people can eat cumin regularly to regulate the movement of the intestines and correct the problem of IBS.
Drinking cumin-flavored water does not provide the benefits of cumin to the body as the quantity of cumin used to flavor water is very less. For getting the medicinal benefit from any substance its dosage is important.
How to Control Diabetes using Cumin ?
To control diabetes the dose required is 5 g of powdered cumin every day for 2 weeks continuously. A teaspoon is equal to 2 g, so we need to regularly use almost 2 and half teaspoons of cumin to control diabetes.
How to Control Cholesterol using Cumin ?
To reduce cholesterol, 3 g or 1 and half teaspoons of powdered cumin added to buttermilk can be consumed. 3 g or 1 and half teaspoon of cumin powder has to consumed before exercise to help reduce weight. For optimum benefits to the body, 1.5 teaspoon of powdered cumin may be used daily.