Cumin is a popular nutraceutical spice use in cooking and traditional medicine. It is rich source of iron and use to make perfume and liquors. Its powder and whole seed both are using in cooking.
Synonym :- Jira.
Biological Source :- It consists of dried ripe fruits of Cuminum cyminum Linn.
Family :- It is belong to Umbelliferae family.
Geographical Source :- It cultivated in India, Morocco, China, Sicily and Syria. India is most largest cumin production country in the world.
Macroscopic Characters :-
- Odour :- Aromatic and characteristic.
- Colour :- Brown in colour.
- Taste :- Aromatic and characteristic.
- Shape :- Elongated and tapering at both side.
- Size :- 3.5 to 6 mm in length and 2 mm in thick.
Chemical Constituents :- Its fruits contain 10% fixed oil and 3 to 4% volatile oil. Its volatile oil mainly consist of cuminaldehyde. It also contain β-pinene, pinene, phellandrene, cumin alcohol, hydro cuminine and hydrated cuminaldehyde.
Health Benefits Of Cumin :-
1. Diabetes :-
Diabetes is a chronic disease condition, it affect uses of blood sugar. Family history and environment are main risk factors of high blood sugar.
Main symptoms of diabetes are weight loss, urinating often, fatigue, feeling weak, blurry vision, feeling thirsty, various infections, irritable feeling and slow healing sores/wound.
Cumin Action :- Its components helps to stimulate the insulin production and manage type II diabetes symptoms. It is effectively reduce fasting blood sugar level.
Cumin water can be take along with lemon and honey to treat high sugar level.
As per J Tradit Complement Med, July 2017 controlled clinical trial, Its oil capsules are beneficial to control high blood sugar.
According to Food Chem, February 2017 review, Spices such as cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger are use to prevent and control diabetes mellitus.
2. Obesity :-
Body mass index (BMI) is use to diagnose obesity. Its main symptoms are snoring, feeling tired, breathlessness, difficulty in physical activity and increase sweating.
Main risk factors of obesity are family history, age, unhealthy diet, lack of sleep, physical inactivity, high alcohol consumption, pregnancy and stress.
Cumin Action :- Its supplements with proper exercise is help to reduce waist circumference, weight, fat mass and improve body mass index (BMI).
It is available in powder or capsule form. Its powder and yogurt combination give best results in weight loss treatment.
As per Ann Nutr Metab, March 2015 randomized controlled trial, Its capsule and orlistat 120 capsule both are similar effective in weight loss treatment.
(orlistat 120 capsules are used in the treatment of obesity).
As per Complement Ther Clin Pract, November 2014 randomized controlled trial, Its powder (3 gm per day) with yogurt is beneficial for weight loss treatment.
3. High cholesterol :-
Cholesterol is a waxy substance in your blood. Its main risk factors are obesity, poor diet, smoking, high alcohol consumption, age and physical inactivity.
Cumin Action :- Its powder with yogurt or with lime capsules both are much beneficial to reduce high cholesterol in body. Most recommended to drink cumin water to decrease cholesterol level in body.
As per Complement Ther Clin Pract, November 2014 randomized controlled trial, Its powder can be use to reduce cholesterol in obese body.
According to Iran Red Crescent Med J, August 2016 controlled clinical trial, Its high dose help to decrease cholesterol level.
4. Digestion :-
Digestion is a process of break down of food. Its main causes are overeating, smoking, alcohol consumption, certain medication and much fat in diet.
Main symptoms of indigestion are abdominal pain, vomiting, heartburn, bloating and gas in stomach.
Cumin Action :- Its extract or water both are use to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms such as bloating, incomplete defecation and stomach aches.
It give better results in empty stomach for digestive problems.
As per Middle East J Dig Dis, October 2013 pilot study, Its extract is beneficial for all irritable bowel syndrome.
5. Enhance memory :-
Main causes of memory loss are environmental toxins, cancer treatment, brain surgery, brain infection, brain tumors, alcohol consumption, brain injury, mood disorder, certain drugs and Alzheimer disease.
Cumin Action :- It is use to nourishing the brain cells and treat memory related problems like stress. Human clinical trial need to confirm.
According to Pharm Biol, July 2011 comparative animal study, It can reduce stress and enhance memory.
Nutrition Of Cumin :-
It is herbaceous plant and rich source of iron. Its essential components are beneficial for obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, improve digestion etc.
It is dried ripe fruit and mostly cultivated in Asia, Africa and Europe. It using in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicines.
It contain :-
- Calories.
- Protein.
- Carbohydrate.
- Iron.
- Calcium.
- Vitamin A.
Side Effects Of Cumin :-
It is use to treat diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and improve irritable bowel syndrome. Its oral consumption is consider as safe for most people.
Some peoples are allergic to cumin. Its common side effects are :-
- In oral consumption :- It may chance to dizziness, nausea, stomach upset, stomach pain and vomiting.
Due to insufficient information, always use less amount or avoid its use during pregnancy and breast feeding period.
Storage Of Cumin :-
It is a spice with sweet aroma and made from the dried ripe fruit of Cuminum cyminum. It should be store in cool and dry place, away from sunlight in an airtight container. It can be use up to 3 to 4 years.
Cumin Water :-
Cumin water also known as cumin tea. It is use to treat obesity, high cholesterol and improve digestion. Lemon and honey can be add to enhance taste and nutrition.
- Add raw or crushed cumin in water.
- Heat the water to gentile boil.
- Cover the container and simmer for 5 to 8 min.
- Remove the container from heat and let it to cool.
- Strain the seeds from water.
- Add lemon juice or honey (optional).
Process To Make Cumin Powder :-
- Take its seeds and begin dry roast for 1 to 2 minute.
- Remove from stove and let it to cool.
- Grind and collect its powder.
- Store in airtight container.
It is a flowering plant and it has been use as a spice for thousands of years. Its nutraceutical properties is more effective for many of health disease.
Its plant grow up to 1 to 2 feet tall. Its branches are dark green in colour and 20 to 30 cm tall. Leaves are 5 to10 cm long and flowers are white or pink in colour.
25 and 30 °C temperature is suitable for its growth. Its brownish yellow colour variety is most commonly use for cooking.