Our love affair with spices knows no bounds. Not only do we use them to flavour our curries, sides and beverages, but many spices are also used to treat a variety of daily ailments. One such multi-purpose spice is cumin or jeera. Jeera comes in brown and black variety, it has a woody texture and is slightly pungent in taste. It is traditionally used as a remedy for indigestion, cough, cold and also boosts blood circulation. One of the oldest spices known to mankind, use of cumin has been mentioned in The Bible too. According to Marryam H. Reshii's book, 'Flavour of Spice', "There is evidence that cumin was in use in parts of the world over 5,000 years ago." Ayurveda too uses cumin to prepare a number of medicinal concoctions called Kadha, each with a different blend of spices and herbs. Jeera or cumin among other things is also known to be effective in boosting metabolism and promoting weight loss.
(Also Read: 7 Benefits of Cumin ( Zeera) You Must Know)
Weight Loss: Here's How Cumin May Promote Weight Loss
According to the book 'Healing Foods', by DK Publishing House, "Cumin helps fortify digestive tract, relieving nausea, bloating and constipation". Here's how this works: Cumin and its active compound thymol is known to stimulate enzymes that facilitate better secretion of digestive juices, a good digestion, as we all know, is key to effective and sustainable weight loss. If you are not able to digest things properly, it hinders your body's ability to eliminate waste which takes a toll on your metabolism by making it slow over a period of time. Some studies have said that cumin water mixed with a bit of lime can help boost metabolism and also improve your lipid profile significantly.
Another interesting facet of cumin is its calorie count. Did you know that a teaspoon of cumin seeds has about 7-8 calories? You can mix a tablespoon of cumin seeds in water and sip this detox beverage through the day without worrying about calorie overload. Cumin aldehyde, thymol and phosphorus present in cumin serve as good detoxifying agents. Experts have said that opting for a detox diet or including detox foods and beverages to your diet helps eliminate excess toxins from the body, which in the long run may help facilitate sustainable weight loss too.
(Also Read: 15 Incredible Benefits of Jeera Water for Your Skin, Hair and Health)
Cumin for weight loss: An interesting facet of cumin is its low calorie count
According to Ayurveda expert Dr. Ashutosh Gautam, "Jeera water is an excellent beverage you can load up on. It helps flush out toxins from the body and boosts the health of your liver too by promoting secretion of bile."
Other Benefits Of Cumin
- Improves digestive health
- Strengthens immunity system
- May treat anemia
- A good health detox
- Battles skin inflammation
- May help treat asthma
You can even top your bowl of raita with some cumin to make it healthy and tasty at the same time, or make a light and hearty curry/stew and flavour it with lots of cumin.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.