Ground caraway seeds or let us call it cumin is one type of spice owned by our country, Indonesia. So that the health benefits of ground caraway seeds are already familiar to the people of Indonesia. However, most Indonesian people know only a little of the many benefits that can be obtained from this white cumin. In this article, we will explain the various benefits of cumin, so anyone can take advantage of cumin to the fullest.
Formerly cumin can only be obtained in Southeast Asia. Even cumin is the mandatory herb for typical spices from Mexico, Africa, the Middle East to Cuba. Currently, cumin has spread throughout the world and can be found in various parts of the world. Cumin is a kind of flowering plants and the growth of this plant is not too high. Cumin is included in the family of Apiaceae and Cuminum genus. Cumin has a scientific name Cuminum cyminum. Cumin also contains a variety of essential oils and has a very distinctive smell.
Read also: Health Benefits of Caraway Oil
Nutritional Content of Ground Caraway Seeds
Cumin is not only used for cooking but also has other uses for health. But it would be better if we know in advance the nutritional content in cumin. Inside 100 grams of cumin is contained:
| Nutritional Content | Nutritional Value | Presentation |
| Energy | 375 kalori | |
| Carbohydrate | 44,24 gram | 4 % |
| Protein | 17,8 gram | 32 % |
| Total Fat | 22,27 gram | 74 % |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0 % |
| Fiber | 10,5 gram | 26 % |
| Folat | 10 µg | 2,5 % |
| Niacin | 4,58 mg | 28,5 % |
| Pyridoxine | 0,435 mg | 33 % |
| Riboflavin | 0,32 mg | 24,5 % |
| Thiamin | 0,628 mg | 52 % |
| Vitamin A | 1270 IU | 42 % |
| Vitamin C | 7,7 mg | 13 % |
| Vitamin E | 3,3 mg | 22 % |
| Vitamin K | 5,4 µg | 4,5% |
| Sodium | 1788 mg | 38 % |
| Potasium | 68 mg | 11 % |
| Calsium | 931 mg | 93 % |
| Copper | 0,867 mg | 96 % |
| Iron | 66,36 mg | 829 % |
| Magnesium | 366 mg | 91 % |
| Manganese | 3,3 mg | 145 % |
| Phosphor | 499 mg | 71 % |
| Zinc | 4,8 mg | 43,5 % |
| Beta karotene | 762 µg | — |
| Beta crypto xanhin | 0 µg | — |
| Lutein zeaxanthin | 448 µg | — |
Benefits of Ground Caraway Seeds for Health
If all this time you only it as cooking spices, this time you will know more the health benefits of ground caraway seeds. Are you curious? Let’s look at the various health benefits that can be obtained from cumin:
- Helps Lose Weight
Want to get slim and healthy? Cumin can be an effective alternative solution to help you lose weight. As mentioned above, cumin contains quite a lot of fiber ie 10.6 grams or about 26% of the total fiber requirement each day. The content can be utilized in helping to launch the digestive system and the body’s metabolic system. So the fat and dirt that is in the body did not accumulate and make us fat. You may also read the health benefits of American Ginger extract.
- Smoothen Blood Circulation
Cumin can also help to nourish and smooth blood circulation. Mineral content such as iron, manganese, copper, zinc, potassium, and others are the elements that are needed to nourish blood and blood circulation in the body. Mineral copper, for example, is needed in the formation of red blood cells.
- Treating Stomach Pain
Cumin has been used since a long ago to treat stomach pain. If you experience bloating, stomach gases, stomach irritation, and diarrhea can be appeased by consuming cumin.
- Relaxing Muscles
White cumin has a potent magnesium and potassium to relax the tense muscles of the body after exercising or after working all day.
- Healthy Digestive System
In addition to treating abdominal pain, cumin can also nourish the digestive system thoroughly. This is because cumin is high in fiber and there are also anti-microbial and antifungal which can protect the digestive system from the attack of dangerous diseases that attack the digestive organs.
- Helping To Treat And Prevent Hemorrhoid
Hemorrhoid is basically caused by constipation due to lack of fiber consumption causing injury to the anus. So the wound can cause an infection that causes hemorrhoid. The high content of fiber in the cumin can smooth digestion and help prevent hemorrhoid. While anti-microbial and antifungal in cumin will help cure an infection. [Read also: Health Benefits of African Wild Potato]
- Curing Respiratory Disorders
Experiencing a breathing problem? Cumin can serve to treat disorders that occur in the respiratory system such as bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory disorders because it contains caffeine as a ‘stimulating agent’ and essential oils that function as a disinfectant. The content makes cumin as an herbal medicine ideal to relieve asthma and bronchitis.
- Prevent Cancer
Cancer is one of the most deadly diseases. For that, it is important for us to prevent this disease as early as possible. Then, how to prevent cancer? One way is to consume cumin. Cumin is known to contain chemical fit that can form anti-oxidants that are very important to fight cancer-causing free radicals.
- Skin Health
White cumin contains a high vitamin E of 3.3 mg that can meet about 22% of vitamin E needs every day. Vitamin E is needed by the body and makes skin healthy and radiant. Well, if you want to have healthy and bright skin, try to consume this white cumin on a regular basis.
- Acne Treatment
Acne is a very annoying skin problem. Acne is very damaging to the appearance of the face and worse acne can reduce self-confidence. In addition, even when it is healed, acne can cause black spots. White cumin contains many essential oils that can help cure acne, boils, and other skin problems. In addition to essential oils, cumin also contains antimicrobial and antifungal which can help treat as well as prevent infection caused by fungi and microbes.
- Helps Stabilize Blood Pressure
Potassium content of 68 mg is very useful to help normalize blood pressure and heart rate. Potassium is a very important component to regulate body cells and body fluids that are useful for controlling heart rate and blood pressure. [Another article: Health Benefits of Grain and Pulses]
12.Prevent Aging
Vitamin E in cumin can function as anti-aging in the body, thus helping to prevent premature aging and symptoms. Vitamin E also serves as an anti-oxidant that can prevent the entry of free radicals and prevent the entry of toxins that can cause wrinkles, black spots, and sagging skin. The content is combined with the presence of anti-bacterial which also found in cumin and makes it highly recommended for those of you who want to have a healthy skin that lasts a long time.
- Treat fever and itching
If your body temperature is hot or fever, cumin can be very useful for decreasing heat. In addition to heat, cumin can also treat itching. The trick is to mix the cumin in boiling water. Furthermore, if the water is already in warm temperatures you can use it to bathe, and guaranteed the heat and itch will be healed.
- Relieves Burning Sensation
For those of you who love spicy food, surely you often experience the burning sensation in the mouth or on the hands after consuming spicy food. If you experience this, you can use cumin to eliminate the burning sensation. The trick is very easy, namely by mixing cumin and boiled in the water. When the water is warm, drink it and the burning sensations can disappear immediately.
- Helps Eliminate Dandruff
Many hair care products are currently on the market. But sometimes there are also many care products that only eliminate dandruff for a while. Cumin contains essential oils that can function to remove dandruff and prevent dandruff from coming back.
Benefits of Cumin in the Culinary World
Cumin has been known for a long time as a flavoring. Here about the benefits of cumin in the culinary world.
- Cumin in the form of seeds or already mashed is a spice for various dishes.
- Cumin seeds have been used since ancient Greece as a seasoning dish for processed meat, chicken and fish.
- In India, cumin is a mandatory spice in jeera daal and aaloo jeera cuisine. While in Middle East cumin is used as a spice especially for processed meat, curry, and rice.
- In Pakistan and India, cumin is used in the food industry that produces sweets, and even soft drinks.
- In India, cumin is also used as a spice and mixture on vegetarian cuisine.
How to Choose and Keep Cumin
In the market, cumin is available in the form of seeds or powder. But it would be better if you use cumin that is still in seed condition because it still has a very good quality and still awake the distinctive aroma of cumin itself. While cumin in the form of powder has reduced quality and nutritional value at the time of processing from seed to powder. If you choose cumin in powder, try to take a little of the cumin powder using your index finger and thumb. Swipe the cumin powder between your index finger and thumb, if the smell is its typical sweet smell then the cumin is in good quality. [Read: Health Benefits of Almonds and Dark Chocolate]
For how to keep it, keeping the cumin is still in good quality is not complicated. White cumin can be kept in the refrigerator or placed in a dry, cool place, or place that has no lighting. If placed in the refrigerator, make sure the container is free from the air so that cumin can last long.
Side Effects of Cumin
The use of cumin in food in excessive doses can cause problems in your digestive system such as:
- Indigestion
- Diarrhea
- Irritation of digestive organs
- Injuries to the intestine
Although the cumin contains many benefits that are needed by our bodies, it would be better if consuming this white cumin with a sufficient dose so as not to cause side effects mentioned above.