New Delhi: Cumin or jeera is a staple in the Indian kitchen. Apart from enhancing food flavour because of its unique, earthy taste, jeera is a centuries-old spice that has immense health benefits.
Cumin contains thymol, a chemical that helps stimulate the pancreas to produce enzymes and bile. It thus helps in the overall digestion of carbohydrates and fats, thus boosting metabolism.
The spice also contains cumin aldehyde which when just sniffed, rouses digestive enzymes and triggers salivation impulse.
Benefits of drinking jeera water
You must have heard many nutritionists and health experts talking about drinking cumin water every morning. To prepare the beverage, just soak a handful of jeera seeds in water and let it rest overnight. Just drink it first thing in the morning, and feel the difference within a week.
The beverage has the following benefits:
- Aids digestion: Jeera or cumin water when had regularly every morning would immensely help improve digestion and keep the overall functioning of organs on track. Thymol secretion would keep the gastric juices flowing and enhance metabolism.
- Helps in weight loss: According to nutritionists, jeera water promotes fat burning and helps in long-term weight loss and maintenance. The detox water is very useful in getting rid of stubborn belly fat. The fat-burning property of jeera water can be sped up with the aid of a regular exercise regime.
- Keeps inflammation at bay: Jeera water also helps keep bloating and inflammation away. Cumin seeds are anti-inflammatory.
- Reduce the risk of cancer: Cumin water is also anti-carcinogenic and considerably reduces the risk of a variety of cancers. It also prevents metastasis, which is the spreading of cancer to other parts of the body.
- Helps manage Diabetes: Cumin water also keeps blood sugar levels in check, maintaining the vital organs and keeping diabetes at bay.
Side-effects of jeera water
Even though cumin water is amazing for health regulation, consuming too much can have side effects. Excessive cumin use can cause heartburn and indigestion and decrease blood sugar levels as well.
Following are a few of the side effects of consuming too much cumin:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding: According to Ayurveda, cumin is warm and so excessive consumption during the summer months or otherwise can affect your periods. It can cause blood clotting or excessive and irregular menstruation.
- Cause heartburn: Among the other side effects of excessive cumin are heartburn and indigestion. People drink this water multiple times to get relief from heartburn, which later results in acidity and other similar issues.
- Damage to the liver: Side effects of cumin water include a permanent damage to the liver when intake surges up. If you have it in higher amounts, there can be adverse effects on both the kidney and liver.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
