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Impressive Health Benefits, Side Effects of Black Cumin Seeds (Kalonji)
What are Black Cumin Seeds?
Black cumin seeds are one of the essential ingredients in Mexican and Spanish cuisine. It is also known as Nigella Seeds, and the scientific name is Nigella sativa.
Generally, it grows up to 30 cm long that gives fruit with seed, which is used to add a flavor in many dishes. Moreover, black cumin seeds also provide some medicinal benefits.
Overview
In ancient days, people use the black cumin seed for toothache, asthma, headache, nasal congestion, intestinal worms, and arthritis. In addition, it is also an ideal choice for pink eyes, parasites, and abscesses. Nowadays, most people are using black cumin seed for diabetes, weight loss, asthma, and hypertension. The scientific research also proves this.
How Does it Work?
Some studies proved that the black cumin seed could improve the immune system, fight against cancer, prevent pregnancy, decrease swelling, and reduce allergic reactions. Still, there isn’t sufficient information to the people.
Several centuries, people have used this as a natural remedy for bronchitis and diarrhea.
Different Names of Black Cumin:
Botanical Name: Nigella Sativa
English Name: Black cumin seeds
Tamil Name: Karunjeeeragam
Malayalam Name: കരിഞ്ചീരകം/
Karinjeeragam
Telugu Name: నల్లా విట్టనలు/Nalla vittanalu
Kannada Name: ಕರಿ ಜೀರಿಗೆ/ Kari jirige
Hindi Name: कलौंजी/kalaumji
Urdu Name: Kalonji
Punjabi Name: ਕਲੌਂਜੀ/Kalaun̄jī
Gujarati Name: કાળીજીરી/ Kalijiri
Spanish Name: Ajenuz
Roman Name:Black Caraway
French Name: Cheveux de Vénus
Arabic Name: Seed of Blessing
Highlights
- The nigella seed is one of the essential and most interesting spices in most of the cuisine.
- The size of the seed is tiny, but it offers a lot of health benefits.
- It comes with anti-carcinogenic properties that help to keep your heart more healthy.
- Kalonji can add a unique aroma into the dishes so you will get tasty food, the taste can’t be explained in words.
- Particularly, in India, people use the roasted kalonji for flavoring curries, stir-fried vegetables, dal, and savories like papdis, kachori, and samosa.
- The kalonji has crystalline nigellone, proteins, amino acids, crude fiber, vitamins, and saponin.
- In addition, it includes fatty acids such as oleic acids, alkaloids, iron, sodium, linolenic, calcium, volatile oils, and potassium.
- It helps to keep your heart healthy, identifies the breathing issues, and lubricates your bones.
Here we’ve mentioned some essential scientific and health benefits of black cumin seeds.
Medicinal Properties of Black Cumin Seeds (Kalonji)
1.Comes with the Antioxidants
The black cumin seed is packed with antioxidants substances that help to balance the dangerous free radicals and also protect from the oxidative damage to cells. Scientific researchers said that the antioxidants have a great impact on disease and health.
Some studies show that antioxidants can fight against many types of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, and heart disease.
You can find some composites in black cumin seed that are t-anethole, thymoquinone, 4-terpineol, and carvacrol. These act as potent antioxidant properties. One test-tube study found that the black cumin seed oil acts as an antioxidant.
2.Cancer Fighting Properties
We all know that the black cumin seed is high in antioxidants that are used to neutralize harmful free radicals. It can be applied to cure many diseases like cancer.
Test-tube studies have discovered some impressive results about the anti-cancer effects of its active kalonji and thymoquinone. The thymoquinone can induce the death cells of blood cancer cells. Moreover, the black cumin seed helps to inactivate the breast cancer cells.
Another test-tube study found that the Nigella seed and its elements can fight against many cancer types such as cervical, pancreatic, skin, lung, and colon cancers.
3.May Alleviate Inflammation
The inflammation immune response protect you from any infection and injury. At the same time, chronic inflammation can provide many diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
Black cumin gives powerful anti-inflammatory effects on your body. Taking 1000 mg of black cumin seed oil every day for up to eight weeks can decrease inflammation and oxidative stress markers.
Inflammation is induced in the brain and spinal cord of rats. The kalonji is very effective in fighting against inflammation when compared to the placebo. In addition, the kalonji helps to reduce pancreatic cancer cells.
4.Antibacterial Properties
Bacteria is one of the main reasons to create all diseases, ranging from ear infections to pneumonia. The black cumin seed has antibacterial properties that can fight against certain strains of bacteria.
It acts as an antibiotic so that you can use this for a staphylococcal skin infection as well as bacterial infections. Some of the test-tube studies found that black cumin can prevent MRSA growth and bacteria strains.
11 Health Benefits of Karunjeeragam
1.Helps to Reduce Cholesterol
Cholesterol is one of the major problems, especially for oil food lovers. The high level of cholesterol increases your blood pressure that may cause the risk of heart disease.
The high amounts of cholesterol can build up in your blood and increase your risk of heart disease.
You no need to worry about this problem; Nigella seed is the best remedy for reducing cholesterol levels.
Seventeen studies are showing that the nigella seed is connected with essential “bad” LDL cholesterol and blood triglycerides. In addition, these studies also found that nigella seed oil has a more significant effect than the black cumin powder even though the kalonji seed powder can increase the “good” level of HDL cholesterol.
Another study shows that 57 diabetes people have reduced their LDL cholesterol with kalonji. Taking 2 grams of black cumin seeds every day for 12 weeks can help to decrease both total and LDL cholesterol.
2.Protect the Liver and Kidney
The Liver is one of the essential organs in our body. It helps to remove the metabolizes drugs, toxins, and nutrient processes, and provides proteins and chemicals essential to health.
In addition, black cumin can reduce the toxicity chemical level and prevent the Liver and kidney damage.
Kalonji’s antioxidant content can decrease inflammation and oxidative stress.
3.Can Aid in Blood Sugar Regulation
Excessive blood sugar can create many negative symptoms, such as fatigue, increased thirst, accidental weight loss, and concentration difficulties.
Without long-term validation, high blood sugar can lead to severe consequences such as vision changes, slow wound healing, and nerve damage.
The black cumin seed can balance the sugar level and protect from these adverse side effects. It can also increase the fasting level and normal blood sugar. Taking black cumin seed every day for up to three months can decrease the fasting blood sugar and insulin resistance.
4.Prevent Stomach Ulcers
Stomach ulcers are one of the painful sores that occur when the stomach acids eat the layer of protective mucus that controls the stomach.
The black cumin seed protects the stomach lining and prevents ulcers from developing. It is one of the best common treatments for stomach ulcers.
5.Aids Weight Loss
Losing weight is a challenging task for everyone, especially for aged people. Most people use one cup of hot water, a little bit of honey and lemon to reduce their weight.
We have recommended adding a pinch of kalonji seed in this mix and wait for the result. Most of the health enthusiasts commended that nigella seeds are a wonderful ingredient to reduce the extra kilos.
6.Fights Acne
The kalonji oil and sweet lime juice mix can cure several skin problems.
You can take half a teaspoon of nigella oil per cup of sweet lime juice. Apply the oil on your face twice a day, the acne and spots disappear within a week. If you have pure nigella oil, you can use it for damaged feet.
7.Eases Joint Pain
Take a nigella seed in hand and heat it with mustard oil. It is one of the ancient treatments.
Once the oil is smoked, remove it from the flame and let it cool slightly. The oil is ready when the finger is dipped in it. Now it is ready to massage your inflamed joint.
8.Asthma
Taking black cumin seed through your mouth and asthma medicines can increase the chances of wheezing, lung problems, and coughing, for some people with asthma.
But it works for the people who had deficient lung function before treatment. Kalonji doesn’t work for the drugs theophylline or salbutamol.
9.Increases Memory power
Taking kalonji seeds with a small amount of honey can help to improve memory power.
10.Gets Rid of Headaches
Nowadays, headache is one of the most common problems for people. Instead of swallowing a pill, rub black cumin seed oil on your forehead.
You will get relief from the headache in some hours. There is no such thing as natural home remedies!
11.Makes Teeth Stronger
Kalonji can traditionally prevent dental problems like inflammation of the gums or bleeding and weak teeth. If you want to strengthen your gums, massage your teeth using curd and a bit of nigella oil twice per day.
Nutritional Facts of Black Cumin Seeds
One table spoon of black cumin seeds contain,
| Nutrient | Value |
|---|---|
| Moisture | 7.1% |
| Total Fat | 45.4% |
| Ash | 7.4% |
| Protein | 20.3% |
| Linoleic acid | 57% |
| Oleic acid | 21.8% |
| Palmitic acid | 13.1% |
| Glutamic acid | 23.95% |
| Aspartic acid | 9.32% |
| Arginine | 8.9% |
Quick Facts
When you are making the purchase check the pack of kalonji seeds that are jet black, moreover it shouldn’t look old.
The essential thing is storing kalonji. Keep the black cumin seed in the dry place and check it won’t come in touch with moisture.
Since 100 grams kalonji is enough for long days, don’t purchase a large amount of black cumin seed. It helps prevent the seed from its aroma loss.
Easy to Add to Your Routine
You can easily add black cumin seed to your daily routine. There are many ways to add it to your food. With its bitter flavor defined as a blend of oregano and onion, it is often used in South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine.
You can lightly fry this seed then use the whole to add flavor to curry dishes or bread. Some people eat the raw seed or mix it into the water and honey. You can also add it to smoothies or yogurt and oatmeal.
Its oil can act as a natural remedy that improves your hair growth and decreases skin inflammation. There are kalonji supplements available in the capsule and softgel form on the market.
Black Cumin Seed May Not Be for Everyone
The black cumin seed has a lot of health benefits. Moreover, it is generally safe while we use it as a spice, but using black cumin also has some risk.
Some reports say that kalonji causes dermatitis after applying it in the skin. If you want to apply the black cumin seed on your skin, take a little amount first. It may reduce the risk of an adverse reaction.
One test-tube study shows that the black cumin and its elements can create a blood clotting. So consult your doctor before you take a medicine or kalonji for blood clotting.
In addition, some studies found that you could consume black cumin during pregnancy. At the same time, another study shows that the heavy use of oil could slow down uterine contractions.
If you are pregnant, this seed is not recommended for you. Consult your doctor before you are going to consume the kalonji.
Safety
For Children: It is very safe for children while they take it via mouth short-term and in recommended amounts.
Low blood pressure: It can decrease blood pressure. Taking black cumin seeds every day might create too low-level blood pressure to people who have low blood pressure.
Surgery: Black cumin seed helps to improve the sleepiness and decrease the blood sugar level. Some studies found that the kalonji could increase the risk of bleeding and anesthesia during and after surgery. If you are scheduled for surgery, then stop using the seed before two weeks of your surgery.
Dosing
The scientifically researched dosages are mentioned below:
BY MOUTH:
For asthma:
Take black cumin seed two grams every day for up to 12 weeks as well as take black cumin seed oil 500 mg twice daily for up to 4 weeks. Moreover, use 15 ml/kg of kalonji extract daily for three months. You can also use a single dose of 50-100 mg/kg.
For Diabetes:
Take one gram black seed powder twice daily for 12 months and use black seed oil 450 mg three times daily for up to 12 weeks.
For high blood pressure:
Taking black cumin seed powder 0.5 to 2grams daily for 12 weeks can reduce the high blood pressure. You can use 2.5 ml of kalonji oil twice daily for up to 8 weeks.
For situations that prevent a woman from becoming pregnant within one year of trying to conceive (male infertility): Take kalonji oil 2.5 ml twice for up to 2 months.
ON THE SKIN: For breast pain (mastalgia):
Apply the black seed oil in the breasts daily for menstrual periods. It helps to decrease the breast pain step by step.
The Bottom Line
The black cumin seeds are famous for culinary and medicinal properties. It is a traditional and natural remedy for many diseases and gives a lot of health benefits. But many of them only tested by the test-tube. Although kalonji needs some research, adding it to your food is beneficial for your health.
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