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What is Kalonji
This type of Cumin Seed is also known by different names such as Black Seeds, Nigella, or in scientific name Nigella Sativa. Nigella belongs to the plant family of buttercup the flowering plant.
The plant grows up to 12 inches (30 cm) in height and it produces fruit with seed. This seed was used as a favorite spice in many cuisines. In addition to that, it was used in many of the medical properties for many diseases.
In fact, you will not believe this in many countries this black cumin was used as a natural remedy for all diseases from bronchitis to diarrhea (1).
Here we gonna see the best top 8 health benefits of black cumin and how you can consume it in your diet plan.
1. Antioxidants
Antioxidants are one of the best substances that neutralize harmful diseases such as cardiovascular and inflammatory disease, cataracts, and cancer, and they also prevent oxidative damage to cells (2).
Research study shows that antioxidants are a powerful substance for both health and preventing disease.
Many of the substances found in black cumin seeds (kalonji), some of them are thymoquinone, carvacrol, t-anethole, and 4-terpineol, are the main reason for the antioxidant properties (3).
One of the studies shows that black cumin seeds (kalonji) essential oil also reacted as an antioxidant substance (4).
However, still many types of research exist that how these many antioxidants are available in black cumin seeds (kalonji) which react as the major health benefits of human beings.
2. Low Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in every human body. If it contains less in the body then you are good but if it crosses over the limit then it may lead to increased chances of heart disease.
Black Cumin Seed (Kalonji) has the effective power to reduce lowering cholesterol.
Experts found that intake of Black Cumin Seed (Kalonji) has a regular decrease in both bad LDL cholesterol and blood triglyceride levels.
There was a piece of the amazing news that black cumin oil has more effect than black cumin powder. But black cumin seeds powder only has a good amount of HDL cholesterol level (5).
In the research with 57 diabetes, people consumed black cumin, and the result of the disease reduced their LDL cholesterol level and increased their HDL cholesterol level (6).
And another research with 94 diabetes people were asked to consume 2 grams of black cumin on a daily basis for the next 12 weeks and the result was shocked yes it has reduced both total and LDL cholesterol levels (7).
3. Fight Cancer diseases
Kalonji is rich in antioxidants, which help in stopping the improvement in harmful free radicals which helps develop diseases like cancer.
Much research made with Kalonji gives the impressive result of anti-cancer effects of kalonji and thymoquinone.
One of the research found that thymoquinone rendered cell death in blood cancer cells (8).
Another research with kalonji extract helped inactivate breast cancer cells (9).
Other research studies found that kalonji may help in cancer-free from several types of cancer, such as pancreatic, lung, cervical, prostate, skin, and colon cancers (10).
Still, it is not yet confirmed that kalonji may help in anti-cancer free for human beings. Still lots of studies going through whether the kalonji may have any anti-cancer fighting benefits when it is consumed as a spice or supplement.
4. Killing the Bacteria
Bacteria are the main ones responsible for causing diseases like dangerous infections, like ear infections to pneumonia.
Some of the research may have found that kalonji has an antibacterial substance which may be the main effect of fighting bacteria.
One examination confirms that applying kalonji on the skin helps to cure a staphylococcal skin infection and confirms that it has more effective for bacterial infection because of treating kalonji as an antibiotic substance (11).
Another study states that it is difficult to cure wounds of diabetic patients when they are treated with Kalonji.
It killed the bacteria when we consume the kalonji in the dose-dependent method (12).
Many more studies prove that kalonji has bacteria-killing power and helps in the growth of MRSA (13 & 14).
Still much more research is needed to prove how different kalonji is to strain bacteria away from the body.
5. Helps in Liver protection
The liver is one of the most important organs for a living being. It helps in the removal of toxins, metabolizes drugs to produce proteins, and process nutrients and chemical which are important and crucial to health.
Most of the studies with the animals prove that black cumin seeds may help in protecting the liver from injury and damage.
One of the experiments was held with rats injected with very toxic chemicals and the same way given kalonji to know how it reacts. The result makes it amazing Kalonji has reduced the toxicity of the chemicals in rats and protected the rat's liver and kidneys from damage (15).
Anyhow, still researchers say that needs many more studies needed to know how effective kalonji helps in protecting human liver health.
6. Helps in Blood sugar level
If a human being has a high blood sugar level it may give many symptoms such as increased thirst, regular weight loss, tiredness, and focusing on some matters.
If not taken seriously and forgotten to check with the doctor it may lead to a nerve problem, losing vision level, and slow wound cures.
One of the results found in seven studies intaken of black cumin seeds may help in improving the level of fasting and maintaining the average level of blood sugar. (16).
The same way tested with 94 people found that intake of black cumin seeds on daily basis for three months leads to maintaining the fasting blood sugar level as well as average blood sugar and reducing intake of insulin (17).
7. Reduce stomach ulcer
Stomach ulcers are very dangerous and form when stomach acids come out of the layer of protective lines of the stomach.
Some of the studies show that intake of black cumin seeds may help in preserving the line of the stomach and stop the formation of ulcers.
Research done with 20 rats with stomach ulcers were treated with black cumin seeds and the result found that 83% of rats get cured and it was also a nearly effective medication for a stomach ulcer (18).
Another study done with animal shows that kalonji and its active components may cure the ulcer and protect the line of the stomach against alcohol intake. (19).
Just for your information animal studies is very important to treat any medicine for human beings but still, it was in a limited state. Need further studies to know how effective kalonji is to treat stomach ulcers in humans.
8. Regular daily life
There are many ways of adding kalonji to your regular diet to maintain the body's health condition is stable.
To make a better taste intake kalonji by adding some oregano and onions, such kind of cuisine is usually found in Middle Eastern and south Asian foods.
Usually, toast kalonji lightly and then grind or add flavor to bread or curries to make the dish delicious.
Some of them have black cumin seeds directly or mix with honey or water. Also can be added to oats, smoothies, or yogurt.
What's more, beauty is kalonji oil can be used as a natural remedy which is mainly for increasing hair growth, reducing rashes, and making skin soft.
Kalonji is also available in the market as raw black cumin seeds, capsules, and also soft gel packets which makes usage easier as per people's wishes.
Black cumin may not be for Everyone
Kalonji has many health benefits and it is safe when we consume it as a spice or seasoning, but intaking a kalonji supplement or using kalonji oil may have a risk.
For example, some medical reports state that applying kalonji to the skin may cause itchy rashes on the skin. If you are planning to apply it on the skin make sure to do it on a small patch and test whether it causes any defect if it is not then can use it accordingly (20).
Some of the studies found that kalonji may affect blood clotting. If you are taking medication for blood clotting make sure to talk with your doctor about intaking kalonji supplements. (21).
In some of the studies held with animals kalonji should be consumed safely during the pregnancy period, also another animal study states that kalonji oil may slow down uterine contractions when consumed in larger amounts of kalonji oil (22, 23).
It is better to consult a doctor before consuming kalonji when you are in pregnancy period.
Bottom Line
Kalonji plant (Black Cumin Seeds) has many health benefits but it is considered how we are consuming and who is consuming.
Although still many medical studies are needed to prove how many health benefits are hidden in consuming kalonji seeds. As well adding kalonji to your diet and supplement has many health benefits for your body.
