What are different health benefits of including cumin seeds in your diet?
Scientifically cumin is known as Cuminum cyminum. The peppery taste of cumin makes this seed a very popular and important ingredient in innumerable cuisines throughout the world.
Apart from its well known and appreciated taste, health experts now recommend cumin as a must in every diet due to it rich store of vitamins, iron and manganese. There are various health benefits of cumin seeds to the body. Some of the common benefits are discussed below.
Anemia
Cumin seeds are rich in iron, a key factor in the hemoglobin part of the blood. The presence of iron in the blood allows the binding of oxygen to the blood allowing it to be transported throughout the body for all the metabolic activities to be conducted. A deficiency in this key mineral leads to anemia resulting in breathlessness and general weakness of the body.
Digestion
Cumin seeds are rich in dietary fibers which help in the elimination process in the body. Recent studies have also indicated that cumin seeds enhance the secretion of pancreatic juice which assists in the process of digestion and assimilation of nutrients. Due to its carminative properties it helps in overcoming flatulence or gas problems.
Piles
Cumin seeds due to the high content of dietary fibers, its antibacterial and anti fungal properties help in the treatment of piles, which is mainly caused due to constipation and infection or wounds in the excretory tract. The essential oils present in cumin seeds act as a natural laxative and help in healing the wounds to overcome piles.
Anti carcinogenic
Cumin seeds are also known to possess anti carcinogenic properties which help in removing the harmful free radicals from the body. These free radicals produced in the body during various metabolic activities may lead to the formation of tumors in the body. Cumin seeds also help in detoxification by enhancing the liver to produce detoxifying enzymes.
Colds and respiratory diseases
Cumin seeds are recommended for the treatment of respiratory disorders as well as for the treatment of colds. This seed has various essential oils which make it anti congestive. Apart from this some amount of caffeine is also present in cumin which helps in soothing and relaxing a person suffering from these health problems.
Insomnia
Studies on cumin seeds and its nutrients have shown that it helps in overcoming insomnia. This is not yet ascertained as to which factor contributes to this property of the seed but it is believed that the essential oils may have hypnotic properties apart from assisting in digestion and relaxing the mind.
Lactation
Cumin seeds benefit women immensely. It not only makes up for the loss of iron during the menstrual cycle but because of the presence of thymol, it also helps lactating women in increasing the secretion of milk from the mammary glands. Cumin seeds are also rich in the content of calcium which again is beneficial to a lactating mother.
Skin
Another health benefit of cumin seeds is its impact on the skin. This seed is rich in vitamin E which helps in nourishing the skin and keeping it clear off blemishes and wrinkles.
Anti microbial
This seed, due to the presence of the essential oils have anti bacterial and anti fungal properties. Cumin also has detoxifying capacities that help keep the body especially the skin away from infection.
Due to the awareness in its nutritive value, cumin seeds have gained importance in our diet. Cumin seeds can be taken as a spice in the food that we cook or it can added in fruit juices as a powder. Which ever way you take it, cumin seeds only enhances the taste of the food.
Categories: Anemia, Antibiotics, Body, Cumin Seeds, Vitamins Tags: Anemia, Anti-carcogenic, Body, Colds, Cumin, Cumin Seeds, Diet, digestion, Food, health, Healthy, Iron, Kitchen, Lactation, Manganese, Minerals, Piles, Rich, Skin, Vitamins
Health benefits of various natural spices
Spice is the corner stone of life, even if it is about food, love, relationships or career. Nobody loves a bland, monotonous taste in life. Spices add the much needed zing to the ultimate product. It gives the color, flavor and taste to you daily dose of health. Apart from all this spices give you the boost much needed to combat those evil predators who wreak havoc with your immune system. Spices include a wide variety of herbs, roots, flowers and fruits. It has the humble ubiquitous cumin to the rare and costly Saffron, but ultimately all of them do the one thing, add the much needed zest to your taste buds and body.
Spices have antioxidant properties which helps you to combat Alzheimer, aging and heart disease. It has antimicrobial properties which helps to keep food safe and also kills many pathogens which cling to it. The anti-clotting and anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce the clumping of blood platelets and boost the circulatory system. Spices are also said to improve brain function. There are a great variety of spice which are the integral part of Indian, Chinese and Mediterranean cooking. The use of spice varies with respect to Indian, Chinese or Mediterranean cuisines.
To examine the health benefits of certain spices, we can begin with,
Cumin: It is one of the best sources of Iron and is used to improve digestion. Water boiled with cumin is used to control dysentery in infants.
Cardamom: The amazing cardamom tea is the best thing to lift your spirits. It is a breathe freshener and is used to cope with diabetics.
Coriander: Water boiled with coriander is a good kidney cleanser. It is good to combat rheumatism, sore throat, indigestion, allergies etc.
Curry Leaves: These are the friends of the diabetics. Curry leaves are chewed early in the morning to reduce blood sugar. It is used cleansing the body and also is a part of a host of herbal medicines.
Cinnamon: cholesterol can be considerably reduced by cinnamon. It also reduces the blood sugar levels and encourages the production of natural insulin.
Chilly: It contains Capsaicin which has antioxidant and anti-microbial properties which gives a boost to the immune system.
Clove: this humble flower was used from time immemorial to combat tooth and gum problems. It also fights digestive disorders, cough and cold.
Garlic: Reams of paper can be used to illustrate the uses of this wonder spice. It has strong antioxidant properties and is said to combat a simple cold to life threatening cancer.
Mustard: It contains omega three fatty acids an dis a wonderful source of Iron, calcium and Zinc. It is a great massage oil as it reduces aches and pains.
Pepper: Need to combat common cold then pepper is your answer. It also deals with muscle pains and digestive disorders.
Nutmeg: It is said to be a antidote for Asthma, digestive tract problems and even cancer.
Oregano: This Mediterranean spice calms digestive disorders and helps in curing respiratory illness.
Thyme: Just use it to counter you respiratory disorders and it also stimulates your immune system.
Rosemary: This was an air-freshener before the arrival of synthetic products. It is also soothes and improves the digestive system.
Saffron: This is one of the costliest spice in the world. Saffron is said to combat aging and reduce wrinkles. Continuous use is said to increase the skin tone. Saffron helps to cure a humble headache to the terrible tumors.
The list of the spices are endless and the continuous and judicious use helps in fighting diseases. Everything has a flip side and excessive use of the spices can play havoc with your digestion and circulatory systems. So go for the spice in your life but keep it under your thumb.

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