Even though it’s not very popular in Western countries, carom seeds are present in almost every Indian household. These seeds are used as a spice, and they are known for greatly enhancing the taste of any meal they’re added to. However, carom seeds aren’t just known for their ability to enhance taste – they are also incredibly healthy. Although it’s used in small quantities, this spice will help you experience some outstanding health benefits.
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Top 17 Health Benefits of Carom (Ajwain) Seeds
Weight Loss
The best way to lose weight with the help of carom seeds is to soak them in water overnight and drink them on an empty stomach as soon as you wake up. What this will do is dissolve the fats in your body, thus making it easier for you to shed that excess weight. If you think it’s too much hassle to soak carom seeds in water every night, then you can simply take a tablespoon of them in the morning. Combined with exercise and proper nutrition, carom seeds will help you lose weight in no time.
Asthma Relief
Consuming carom seeds regularly will greatly reduce asthma symptoms. This spice will not only make breathing easier for you, but it will also help you forget about the terrible coughs and other similar symptoms of asthma.
Arthritis
Adding carom seeds into your diet is a great way to fight arthritis. The reason why carom seeds are so good at fighting arthritis is because they possess both antibiotic and anesthetic properties. The antibiotic properties will help combat inflammation and reduce redness, while the anesthetic properties will reduce swelling and soothe your pain.
Rashes, Boils and Itches
Treating boils, rashes and itches with carom seeds is really easy. All you need to do is make a paste using lukewarm water and carom seeds and apply it over the affected area. Some people report that this type of paste is able to make pimples disappear as well.
Indigestion Relief
An upset stomach can seriously disrupt your daily routine. Thankfully, carom seeds are known for helping keep your stomach strong. Adding them to your meals is a great way to make sure that your digestive system doesn’t run into any problems.
Cure for the Common Cold
Sometimes, you don’t need to buy and use medicine to get rid of the common cold – proper nutrition will do the trick. Simply by adding carom seeds into your meals or taking a teaspoon of carom seeds will make it easier for you to fight colds.
Improved Hair Health
Nowadays, many men and women complain how their hair starts graying too early. However, simply by consuming carom seeds regularly, you can improve your hair strength and forget about problems like graying.
Eye Cleanser
Every part of your body should be washed properly, including your eyes. Instead of using plain water to clean your eyes, you can try boiling some carom seeds in water. When it cools down, just take the carom-infused water and wash your eyes thoroughly.
Earache Relief
In Ayurvedic medicine, carom seeds are best known for their ability to provide earache relief. One of the main reasons an individual experiences an earache is due to inflammation of the earlobes or as a symptom of a cold.
Improved Heart Health
In order to function properly, you always need to make sure that your cardiovascular system is working efficiently. Thanks to the presence of thymol and niacin in carom seeds, they will help improve your overall circulation.
Acne Marks Treatment
Not only is treating acne difficult but lightening the scars they leave is also quite a challenge. By applying powdered carom seeds on the affected area, you will lighten your acne scars quite a lot.
Reduced Menstrual Cramps
Every woman experiences menstrual cramps. If yours are unbearable, then you need to add more carom seeds into your diet. Just by consuming a handful of these seeds, you will reduce the pain you feel during menstruation.
Sexual Disability
Many people suffer from sexual disability from time to time, but it’s sometimes hard to find the right cure for this. However, carom seeds might just help you forget about this problem. The best way to consume this spice when it comes to getting rid of sexual disability is to grind it up with tamarind kernels and clarified butter, mix it, and then pour it in water. Once you’re done doing that, add the mixture into a glass containing milk and honey and drink it.
Constipation Problems
If you’re dealing with constipation issues, then you need to start consuming more carom seeds. This spice is known for having positive effects on your digestive system, so it comes as no surprise that it can help you with constipation.
Detoxification
Drinking carom seed tea is a great way to get rid of all the harmful toxins from your body. This drink does a good job of cleansing your entire body. Because of this, many recovering addicts use to drink it on a daily basis.
Toothache
Gargling carom seed water is a great way to deal with a toothache. If you add salt to water, then it will also strengthen your gums and slow down the progression of tooth decay.
Improved Lactation
Carom seeds are known for improving breast milk production in lactating mothers. They should be consumed by women both during and after pregnancy.
10 Fun Facts about Carom (Ajwain) Seeds
- It is believed that carom seeds initially used to grow wild in ancient Egypt, but was soon introduced to Asia, where it’s currently most popular.
- Both in ancient Greek and Rome, people considered this spice to be a medicinal plant.
- The ajwain plant is incredibly similar to parsley.
- Carom seeds are without a doubt most popular in India.
- Ajwain is a spice that’s very prominent in Ayurvedic medicine.
- This plant is also known as bishop’s weed. However, it’s worth noting that some other plants also share this name.
- The smell of carom seeds is almost identical to that of thyme, mostly because they contain a compound called thymol.
- Although they can be eaten raw, carom seeds are usually dry-roasted. This way, they develop a more complex aroma.
- In India, carom seeds are sometimes mixed into curry powder.
- Despite being popular in many countries, this spice has never gained popularity in Western countries.
Tips to Add More Carom (Ajwain) Seeds into Your Diet
Although they can be chewed raw, carom seeds are mostly dry-roasted before they are added to meals. A popular way to consume them is to add them to tea or hot water. This will extract maximum benefits from the seeds.
Thanks to their unique and dominant flavor, carom seeds are used in a number of different dishes. One of the most popular cooking methods that involve ajwain is known as tadka. Tadka revolves around heating cooking oil until it reaches a high temperature and then adding a mixture of different spices.
Carom seeds are often used in pickled products, thanks to the fact that they have excellent preservative qualities. They are also included in preparation of most vegetable dishes. Additionally, they can also enhance the taste of different soups and pasta sauces.
Dangers and Side Effects of Eating Too Many Carom (Ajwain) Seeds
Although proper carom seed intake isn’t associated with any side effects, consuming this spice in excess can lead to some health problems. Some of the most common health issues associated with over consumption of carom seeds include skin irritation, headaches, vomiting, allergic reactions, and nausea. It’s also worth noting that people who suffer from ulcerative colitis, liver diseases, and diverticulitis conditions should avoid this spice.
Although carom seeds are used to treat constipation, it’s worth noting that they won’t help you with constipation of you have dry and hard stools or lumps in your stools. If this is the case, then you should completely avoid this spice, as it can cause more hardness and dryness in your stools. In this case, you should consume more water instead of eating carom seeds.
Conclusion
Carom seeds represent a spice that originated in ancient Egypt, and is now mostly present in the Middle East and India. They are known for their unique and dominant flavor, which is why they’re a great addition to many different meals. On top of that, they can also be added to hot beverages. This spice is known for being a great source of many important nutrients, such as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Because of their nutritional value, carom seeds offer a number of health benefits. Both ancient Greeks and Romans considered ajwain to be a medicinal plant due to its ability to improve overall health. Some of the most notable health benefits associated with carom seeds include improved heart health, asthma relief, weight loss, reduced menstrual cramps, and improved hair health. When consumed in moderation, they won’t cause any side effects, but you may experience some health problems if you eat too much of this spice.