Health Benefits of Kalonji or Nigella Seeds | Benefits of Black Cumin

It also consists traces of of cadmium, lead, and molybdenum.

This indicates a high nutritional potential of black cumin seeds especially as a source of protein and fat especially unsaturated fatty acids.

Culinary Applications of Nigella Seeds, Black Cumin or Kalonji

Culinary use of kalonji or nigella seeds

Kalonji Nigella seeds are widely used as a spice and condiment in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine. Black cumin can be dry-roasted and used to give a smokey, nutty flavour to bread, curries, vegetables, and beans.

Nigella seeds is also known as “seed of blessing”. It is believed that Prophet Muhammad once said, “The black seed can heal every disease, except death”.

Whatever ability nigella may have to mend the ill, it certainly does wonders in savoury pastries, pilafs, curries, vegetable dishes and pickles.

Nigella seeds also add great texture when sprinkled whole over baked goods or when added to dough.

A tempering of kalonji along with jeera or saunf goes well over rice. It has a nutty flavour and peppery taste that adds great value to any type of curries, lentils or stews.

Kalonji is either dry-roasted or tempered in cooking oil before being added to such recipes.

Kalonji or Nigella is an essential ingredient in the Bengali five-spice mix known as panch phoran or panch puran, used to temper dal, greens and other sabzi.

It is generously added as a garnish topping to breads like naan, paratha and even savoury biscuits.

I usually add some bits of Nigella seeds in case sesame seeds are not available even to my soups.

They are a great replacement for sesame seeds without the sweet element. Add them whole at the last minute just before serving the soup.

Kalonji is very popular in various traditional medicines such as Unani and Tibb, Ayurveda, and Siddha.

What are the Health Benefits of Nigella Seeds, Black Seeds or Kalonji or Black Cumin

Nigella seeds or Kalonji come from Nigella sativa (N. sativa) (Family Ranunculaceae). It is a widely used medicinal plant throughout the world.

It is very popular in various traditional systems of medicine like Unani and Tibb, Ayurveda and Siddha. Seeds and oil have a long history of folklore usage in various systems of medicines and food.

It has been widely used as antihypertensive, liver tonics, diuretics, digestive, anti-diarrheal, appetite stimulant, analgesics, anti-bacterial and in skin disorders.

1. Health benefits of nigella seeds for reducing inflammation –The black seeds contain an active compound called Thymoquinone, which can help to reduce chronic inflammation that mostly lead to a severe health disorder. Consuming these seeds in a moderate amount daily can help to reduce swelling in the body.
2. Health benefits of kalonji for diabetes – The small seeds prevent the sudden spike of sugar level in blood and minimises other symptoms of diabetes. Regular intake of kalonji can also decrease your cholesterol level. If you are suffering from diabetes then you should drink kalonji infused water every morning on an empty stomach.
3. Health benefits of nigella seeds for asthma – Nigella seeds oil works wonders for those suffering from asthma. A regular intake of this oil or supplements will improve the symptoms of asthma and prevent the sudden onset of the asthma attacks.
4. Health benefits of kalonji for liver problems – The incredible components and compounds in Kalonji save the liver from toxicity by regularising its functions like metabolism, processing nutrients and minerals that are important for the health. Take Kalonji seeds or oil daily to reduce the toxicity of chemicals and to safeguard both liver and kidneys.
5. Health benefits of nigella seeds as a memory booster – Memory loss and cognitive function inability are the problems faced by elderly. Ayurveda recommends consuming Kalonji oil or seed powder along with mint leaves to boost memory and to prevent neurological disorders like dementia, Alzheimer’s etc.
6. Health benefits of kalonji or nigella seeds for skin treatments – Nigella Seeds can be a helpful remedy for serious coughing problems such as bronchitis or whooping cough. It helps to relieve the spasms in the airways that are causing the coughing in the first place.
7. Health benefits of nigella seeds in cancer treatment – Nigella seeds could be of great help in preventing the pancreatic cancer. In various surveys, it has shown significant result in sizes and incidences of tumours. In yet another study, nigella seeds proved beneficial in diffusing breast cancer cells.
8. Health benefits of kalonji for blood pressure – Regular use of nigella seed extract may lower blood pressure in patients with mild hypertension, as per a study (20). Extracts of the seeds had lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings.
9. Health benefits of nigella seeds or black seeds in anxiety problems – Black cumin seeds decreased anxiety and improved mood and cognition in a study of 48 adolescent male volunteers after 4 weeks. The treated group took 1 g of black seed daily in capsule form
10. Health benefits of Nigella seeds as a fertility booster – An increase in free radicals in the body system can affect sperm quality. The antioxidant prowess of nigella seeds can help avert this. Studies suggest the thymoquinone in nigella seeds can improve male fertility parameters by enhancing antioxidant defence.