The right spice or herb can create flavor versatility and breathe new life into your favorite savory dishes. Historically, many cultures worldwide used culinary herbs and spices to make foods easier to digest. One such powerful yet often underused spice is cumin.
Cumin’s use dates back to ancient times, with mentions in the writings of the Greek physician Hippocrates in the fifth century B.C. For thousands of years, it has been used not just for flavor but also to aid digestion.
In Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language, cumin is called “jeera,” meaning “that which helps digestion.” Historically, cumin seeds have been used to treat various digestive issues, including flatulence, diarrhea, indigestion, bloating, and gas. Modern medicine recognizes cumin’s carminative action, which soothes digestive irritation and promotes blood flow to digestive organs.
Improves digestion: A July 2024 clinical study of 74 patients undergoing abdominal surgery showed that using a 250-milligram cumin extract helped reduce gas-passing time and improve bowel motility after abdominal surgery. Reduces blood fats: Research has also shown that cumin reduces blood fats. In a small study of 88 overweight and obese women, adding 3 grams of cumin powder to two meals daily for three months led to improvements in blood lipids compared to the control group.
Enhances enzyme production: Other studies suggest cumin’s benefits come from its ability to stimulate the secretion of pancreatic enzymes, wh.