This One Kitchen Spice Can Help You Lose Weight, Fight Alzheimer’s and More

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It’s easy to forget the significance of something we see or use on a regular basis. Cumin is perhaps one of those things. This spice is very popular in many Middle Eastern, Indian and Mexican dishes. It is one spice you will on just about every spice rack in America.

The ancient practice of Ayurvedic medicine states that cumin is one of the best wellness tonics, and it can be used to treat a wide variety of health problems. This spice is nutrient-rich, improves the metabolism, is super anti-inflammatory, is naturally antiseptic, and improves the function of the digestive system.

Research backs up these beliefs, showing that cumin offers relief from insomnia, helps with diabetes and can protect from memory loss. It can also help you lose weight effortlessly.

The cumin we are referring to is cuminum cyminum, not black cumin seed, nigella sativa.

Keep reading and find out all the health benefits hiding in plain sight in your kitchen!

1. Improves Memory and Reduces Stress

In July of 2011, researchers conducted a study and spiked the water of lab rats with cumin extract. These rats were given cumin each day at doses between 100 and 300 mg per kilo of body weight. The rats that were given cumin showed inhibited stress-induced biochemical changes that were dose dependent. In other words, the more cumin the rat received, the fewer stress-induced chemicals were present in their bodies. These rats also had improved memory and cognitive abilities that were also dose-dependent. Researchers conducting this study found that there was sufficient scientific evidence to show that cumin had anti-stress, antioxidant and memory-enhancing compounds. This study was published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Biology.

2. Lose Weight

In a study from the University of Medical Sciences in Iran, women who added cumin to their diets decreased their body fat percentage by 14.6 percent when compared to those who simply tried diet and exercise. Those women lost only 4.91 percent body fat. Cumin increases your metabolism, which can cause you to naturally lose weight quickly and cut down on food cravings. These women added only one teaspoon of cumin into their daily diets and they lost three times the fat of women who did not. Those are some pretty amazing results. Find out more about essential oils to lose weight.

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3. Improves Iron Levels

One of the most common nutritional deficiencies in the U.S. is a lack of iron. This is the number one cause of anemia in America. Iron is a vital mineral for the proper metabolism of the body. Children, women of child-bearing years, and teenagers are at the highest risk for iron deficiency. Symptoms of this problem are extreme muscle weakness, fatigue and shortness of breath. Ground cumin can help to prevent iron deficiency and anemia. Each teaspoon of this wonderful spice has four milligrams of iron, or about 22 percent of your daily requirement.

4. Improves Digestion

Mysore University published a study in 2004 which found that cumin stimulated the liver to increase its production of bile, which helps the body break down fat and absorb nutrients more efficiently. This is helpful for problems with indigestion and with diarrhea. This study, published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, showed the rats that were given cumin had a 71 percent increase in their bile production.

5. Lowers Cholesterol

In an Indian study, tests were performed on diabetic rats. These rats were given cumin extract, and it was found that not only did cumin reduce their pancreatic inflammation markers, but also the rats’ overall cholesterol and triglyceride levels were lowered significantly. This study was published in 2002 by Annamalai University.

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6. Kill Intestinal Worms

Although most Americans believe that they could not possibly have intestinal worms, emergency room doctors beg to differ. Many different cultures use cumin to help remove intestinal worms. You can use cumin in your cooking as well as making tea by boiling one tablespoon of cumin powder in 400 ml of water. Boil until the water is reduced to 100 ml. Drink about 40 ml of this drink twice each day to kill intestinal worms and other parasites.

7. Helps to Control Diabetes

Researchers at Mysore University in India wanted to explore the possibility of cumin as an anti-diabetic compound. In the journal Nutrition Research, this study, which was published in 1998, fed diabetic rats a diet that includes 1.25 percent ground cumin over an eight week period. All the rats had a reduction in their blood sugar, as well as in their urine. A review of studies published in the International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition in 2005 confirmed that some spices, cumin among them, were able to help diabetics and their hypoglycemia. Always talk to your doctor before consuming cumin and never stop taking your medication unless your doctor has approved.

8. Fights Insomnia

There are numerous herbs that can help you fight insomnia, and cumin is one of them. Simply mix a half of one teaspoon of cumin with one mashed banana. Eat this at least three hours before bedtime each night. Alternately, you can also drink some cumin tea about an hour before bedtime.

Using food as medicine is as old as human beings themselves, but these “folk remedies” are often given a smirk and a laugh by the mainstream medical establishment. Try adding curry to your diet for tons of scientifically proven health benefits you can count on!

References:

Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lpi.oregonstate.edu

Sciencedirect.com

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