Cumin seed / Jeera, Botanical name: Cuminum cyminum

Spices play an important role in enhancing the taste and flavor of dishes they are used in. Cumin is a spice extensively used in Indian cookery. Cumin seeds or “jeera” is basically a tiny seed of a Mediterranean plant in the parsley family. It is an aromatic spice used in Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, , North African, Mexican and western cuisines. In India, cumin seeds are generally fried or roasted for use in cookery. There are different varieties of cumin seeds. one variety of cumin is called black cumin seeds or Shah jeera .

Usage of Cumin seed/ jeera (Cooking/Eating)

Cumin is an important ingredient in Indian kitchen. Both ground and whole cumin seeds are used to season a variety of recipes such as curries, soups and stews. Cumin seeds should be lightly roasted or fried before adding them to any recipe to obtain their full aroma and flavour. Given below are certain tips for using this spice.

Jeera rice:Jeera rice is  popular dish in India which is prepared by frying cumin seeds in cooking medium and cooking rice in it with water.

Flavour In Dal And Curry Varieties:

Cumin seed is a healthy addition to enhance the flavor of lentils, beans, curd/ yogurt based dishes etc. Its aroma and taste greatly complements the recipe .

Tadka / Tempering / Seasoning In Dals / lentils:

Dals/ lentils are regarded as a staple diet in India. Whole cumin seeds are used for Seasoning/tempering (providing tadka) to the dals, thus imparting a wonderful flavor/ aroma to the dals. It is also used to temper meat dishes.

Seasoning Vegetables:

Vegetables can be seasoned with cumin. For instance, potatoes can be easily prepared with cumin.

Chicken Preparation:

Besides dal and vegetables, cumin can be used in preparing chicken.

Panch Phoron:

Cumin seeds are used in preparing Bengali spice mixture known as “panch phoron”. It is basically a combination of nigella seeds, black mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds and cumin. This spice mix is used in several dishes such as potato curry, pan roasted potatoes and salmon.

Flavouring In Rasam:

Roasted cumin seeds along with ground black pepper are used in flavoring rasams.  They are toasted with coriander to provide a distinct aroma and are widely used in South Indian and Sri Lankan cuisines.

Preparation Of Soups, Sauces And Pickles:

Cumin seeds are used in the preparation of soups, barbecue sauces, pickling and is one of theingredients in curry powder. Black cumin seeds are used as a spice in Persian and Mughlai cuisine.

Besides its culinary uses, this aromatic spice is known for its medicinal properties.

Cumin benefits  blood circulation:

Iron rich cumin seeds are good for the body. Iron is necessary for the formation of hemoglobin in the blood. The use of Cumin protects from Anemia.

Cumin benefits digestion:

In Cumin seeds there are Enzymes present that help to breakdown foods and helps in digestion.

Drinking jeera water is very advantageous for the major organs like liver, stomach and kidney.

Soak a teaspoon of jeera in a glass of water for the entire night and drink it in morning, it facilitates the bile production by the liver which relieves from the bloating, acidity, abdominal gas etc.

Jeera water clears up the respiratory passage by diluting all the collected mucous in chest. It acts as an antiseptic which kills the microorganisms and prevents from the cold, cough and fever.

Cumin benefits Skin:

Cumin is rich in content of vitamin E which keeps our skin healthy and glowing. Also, the essential oils in cumin have disinfectant and anti-fungal properties which protect our skin from fungal and microbial infections.

Direct application of cumin paste on boils, pimples, eczema, psoriasis and other skin disorders facilitates quick healing.

A dash of ground cumin powder can also be added to a face pack to treat skin issues.

Cumin is also a good source of dietary fiber which helps in the cleaning process and removes toxins.

Cumin is also a good source of dietary fiber,it helps in the cleaning process and removes toxins.

Cumin’s combination of antioxidant effect and antibacterial property  provides us with a healthy, beautiful skin that lasts till our old age.

If you are suffering from body heat and skin itchiness, boil some cumin seeds in water, after cooling it, take a bath with that water.

Benefits of Jeera Water for Skin

Drinking luke warm jeera water is considered to rehydrate the human body and keep refresh all the time.

Jeera seeds are full of dietary fibers which remove the toxic materials in the body and cleanse the skin to make it clean, fresh and rejuvenate.

It makes the facial skin naturally glowing and healthy.

Regular intake of the jeera water in the morning provides enough vitamins (vitamin A, C and E) to the body which nourishes the skin.

Taking jeera water with some ginger soothes the sore throat.

Regular intake of jeera water helps in treating the sleep disorder and enhances the sound sleep.

It soothes the skin by relieving the burning sensation of the skin.It boosts up the skin functioning and enhances its ability to absorb more essential nutrients to be nourished and healthy.

It has necessary minerals (potassium, calcium, selenium, copper, manganese) playing vital role in keeping the skin supple, soft and smooth.It replenishes the skin and prevents from getting wrinkled thus aids in preventing the premature aging.

It manages the proper blood content in the body and lowers the blood sugar level in the blood.

Because of its richness in the iron content, it helps in treating the anemia by maintaining the hemoglobin content of the blood.It increases the blood hemoglobin level thus enhances the oxygen carrying capacity of the cells throughout the body.

Jeera/Cumin seeds act as a good broncho dilator and have a compound called Thymoquinone which helps in reducing the inflammations and treating asthma.

It is a very good anti-oxidant spice which fights with the free radicals in the body and enhances the body immunity to better fights with all the infections.

Starting every morning with a glass of jeera water helps to fight with the various disorders such as morning sickness, diarrhea, flatulence, nausea, dyspepsia, mal absorption syndrome as it helps in stimulating the secretion of enzymes which breaks the carbohydrate, glucose and fat.

Potassium content available in the jeera maintains the blood pressure and heart rate thus preventing the hypertension.

Benefits of cumin / jeera water for Hair

Jeera water nourishes the hair follicles and makes it long, flawless, shiny and strong because of its vitamins and minerals. It nourishes the hair by the root and makes it silky and lustrous.

Cumin oil  benefits Cumin seeds oil extract works as a good stimulant, carminative, anti-oxidant and diuretic.It is greatly used for purposes of aroma therapy, massage and scalp treatment to get rid of dandruff.

Cumin benefits Weight Loss It slightly aids in the strategy of the weight management as it stimulates the appetite, removes toxins from the body and treats various digestive disorders including gas and bloating problems.

 Ref.http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/amazing-benefits-of-cumin-jeera/

Nick’s kitchen medical Disclaimer:

• Nick’s kitchen is for Vegetarians. It sometimes provides education and support to individuals who want to become vegetarian, or move toward a more vegetarian diet.
• Nick’s kitchen provides some information on vegetarian and vegan diets to the best of their knowledge and abilities.
• Nick’s kitchen does not claim to be health care professional, nutritionist, nor does it claims to treat any illness through vegan or vegetarian diet.
• If you have a medical condition,Nick’s kitchen recommend that you consult your health care professionals before changing your diet.
• Any changes that you make to your diet, and the results of those changes, are your decision and your responsibility.