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The cumin plant is extensively used as a condiment, food flavoring, and a spice in culinary practices mainly of the Indian Subcontinent and some other Asian, African and Latin American countries. It has been used for thousands of years. In Biblical times, cumin was more valuable than gold and people  were making offerings with it.

Cumin is one of the most powerful compounds on the planet. As it provides so many important nutrients which can help keep you healthy, there is no wonder that this beneficial culinary ingredient is that popular around the world.

But have you ever thought: what will happen to my body if I eat cumin every day?

As a great source of energy, vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and amino acids, consuming just one teaspoon of cumin daily can help you meet your daily nutrient requirements.

Here are some interesting facts you probably would want to learn about the spice under discussion:

The aroma of cumin is so powerful that it activates your salivary glands and stimulates your metabolism, due to a compound called cuminaldehyde, preparing the body for digestion even before taking a bite.

It’s extremely beneficial for digestion and related problems, like biliousness, morning sickness, indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, malabsorption syndrome and flatulent colic.

It also helps the liver to boost the release of bile which aids digestion of fats and nutrients in your gut.

Just like many other spices, it is great for balancing microbes in the gut.

Cumin is also carminative. It means that it will give you relieve from gas troubles and as a result, will improve your digestion and appetite. Thanks to its essential oils, magnesium, and sodium content, cumin seeds powder (mixed with hot water) also provides relief from stomach aches.

Cumin can help your body by stimulating the central nervous system to be more effective, which results in a sharper memory and also, in greater control over your limbs. It might even be useful in treating Parkinson’s disease due to its contribution to the body’s central nervous system function.

Cumin seeds contain naturally occurring phytochemicals that are known to work as antioxidants. That means that these substances keep the tiny free radicals which attack healthy cells far from being successful! Antioxidants help you feel more healthy and energetic, and help keep your skin from looking aged.

It has been researched that cumin plant possesses detoxifying and chemopreventive properties which are important for speeding up the release of detoxifying and anti-carcinogenic enzymes from the glands. These compounds bind together with vitamins A and C in order to block development of breast and colon cancer cells.

The onset of a common cold weakens your body, depressing your immune system. Cumin fights the viral infections responsible for common cold and cough formation. Cumin, which is rich in iron and vitamin C, keeps the infections at bay and strengthens the immune system.

Researchers have evaluated cumin extract for treating the cramps, digestive spasms, nausea, and bloating, which are the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In one study, cumin extract was able to treat these symptoms for as long as participants were consuming it. It’s so effective that researchers hope cumin might be an effective replacement for people who cannot afford expensive prescription drugs to treat their IBS.

This is a very peculiar property of the spice since it is a stimulant as well as a relaxant at the same time. This property cannot be attributed to a single component alone, just as causes of insomnia cannot be attributed to a single cause. However, there is evidence that the proper intake of vitamins, especially B-complex, and good digestion promote a sound sleep.

Some of the components of cumin essential oil are naturally sleep-inducing and have calming effects, and this helps to relieve stress and anxiety that cause insomnia in most cases.

It is a well-known fact that vitamin E is useful for the maintenance of skin and the prevention of premature aging symptoms as it keeps the skin looking young and radiant. The good news is that vitamin E is present in abundance in cumin. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and combats the free radicals that attack the skin and result in signs of premature aging like wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin.

Cumin contains essential oils which contain disinfectant and antifungal properties. This prevents any fungal and microbial infection from affecting the skin. This, together with the antibacterial properties of cumin, gives you healthy and beautiful skin that lasts far into your old age.

Several group studies have looked into ways cumin can help you lose weight. According to several studies, overweight women that were given cumin seeds powder but also ate a healthy diet, showed improvement in their weight and vital statistics. A different study showed that a mixed population of overweight men and women saw improvement in their weight equal to taking diet pills.

As you can see, this common spice has not only multiple uses in kitchen but most importantly, it has numerous health benefits, therefore daily cumin intake is advisable. Just make sure to always consult with your doctor before embarking on a new herbal supplement routine.