Verified by Dr. Sandip Sonara
Advanced gynec Laparoscopic & Gynec Onco Surgeon
Jeera or cumin is an important ingredient in every Indian household that helps enhance the taste of food. The scientific term for cumin is ‘Cuminum cyminum L’ (family Apiaceae). Cumin is often used as a natural home remedy for several health problems.
Jeera water, in particular, provides many health benefits, and making this refreshing drink is simple. All you have to do is soak jeera seeds in water overnight and drink this concoction in the morning. Easy, isn’t it?
Health Benefits of Jeera Water
Boosts Respiratory Health
Jeera water is a simple home remedy that helps de-congest excess mucus in the respiratory tract and provides relief from cough and cold. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe swelling and clear mucus accumulation in the lungs, airways, and bronchi. It also has antibacterial and antiseptic properties that help treat sore throat and other respiratory problems.
Good For The Immune System
Being an excellent source of iron and potassium, jeera water can help boost your immunity. It is rich in antioxidants and antibacterial properties that help your body build a defense against infection-causing bacteria and viruses. It also contains other essential vitamins & minerals that further lower the risk of infections and communicable diseases.
Improves Digestion and Metabolism
Jeera contains powerful anti-gas chemicals that help with indigestion, bloating, and acidity and prevent irritable bowel syndrome. It fastens the digestion process by stimulating the secretion of digestive enzymes. Drinking jeera water can keep your digestive system healthy, ensuring the overall body function is on track.
Improved metabolism is another health benefit of jeera water. By producing fat-breaking enzymes and compounds such as carbohydrates & glucose, it helps boost your metabolism. This, in turn, helps you to maintain a healthy weight.
Regulates Periods
Irregular menstrual cycles can be quite stressful, and one of the best ways to regulate them is to drink jeera water. Jeera contains antispasmodic properties that help contract the uterine muscles, while anti-inflammatory properties help alleviate period cramps.
Favours Weight Loss
As mentioned above, jeera water helps improve the digestion process and boost metabolism, which aids in weight loss. It secretes enzymes that help keep your gut healthy and break down fats, sugar, and carbohydrates faster. It also helps detoxify the body, helping eliminate harmful toxins.
Promotes Healthy Skin
Jeera has essential antioxidants that help promote skin radiance and glow. It contains vitamin E in abundance, which helps slow down skin aging. Toxins like free radicals can lead to blemishes. So, by drinking jeera water, you can keep free radicals away, thereby ensuring that your skin is healthy and glowing.
Hydrates the Body
Staying hydrated is important for your overall general health. Drinking plentiful water ensures that your body functions optimally at all times. Drinking jeera water every morning helps flush out toxins from the body, thereby keeping you healthy and fit.
Strengthens Cardiac Health
One of the other health benefits of jeera water, it can help strengthen your heart muscles and improve cholesterol levels. It not only protects your heart but also helps treat several cardiac issues. Plus, it reduces the risk of heart blockage, heart attacks, blood clots, etc.
Prevents Anaemia
Haemoglobin (a protein in the red blood cells) is required to supply oxygen throughout the body. Jeera contains a richness of iron which is needed for the production of haemoglobin. This prevents anemia and also helps treat issues like general fatigue, dizziness, and lethargy.
Low in Calories
One teaspoon of Jeera contains only 8 calories, making it a great choice for health-conscious individuals. Compared to sugary sweetened beverages, jeera water is a healthier alternative as it provides several health benefits.
Comprises of Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Jeera contains a chemical compound called Thymoquinone that helps treat inflammation, cough, influenza, asthma, etc. Its anti-inflammatory properties help protect the liver and promote good health. It also helps reduce abdominal & stomach pains and treats other inflammatory diseases.
Reduces the Risk of Cancer
Jeera consists of anticarcinogen – a substance that is believed to reduce the risk of cancer. It is also known to prevent metastasis, i.e. the spread of cancerous cells from one part to another part of the body.
Side-Effects of Jeera Water
Jeera water while healthy needs to be consumed in moderation to prevent any negative health effects. Below we have mentioned the potential side-effects of consuming jeera water in excess.
- During Pregnancy: Drinking jeera water during pregnancy is not recommended as excess jeera water can induce labour or lead to miscarriage.
- Not Advisable for Lactating Mothers: The side-effects of jeera water are not only restricted to pregnancy. After delivering the child, lactating mothers should stay away from jeera water as it reduces milk production and leads to other serious conditions.
- Diabetes: If you’re diabetic, it is best to avoid jeera water as too much consumption can decrease the blood sugar level, leading to hypoglycemia.
- Surgeries: Since jeera water lowers blood sugar levels, giving it to the patient before/after major surgeries can be harmful.
- Heart Burn: Another notable side-effect of jeera water includes heartburn. While jeera water provides quick relief from gas problems, excess of it can result in heartburn or acidity.
- Heavy Menstruation: Drinking jeera water in large quantities can lead to heavy bleeding during periods. Thus, regulating your intake is important.
- Damages the Liver: Excess intake of jeera water is also known to damage the liver and the kidneys.
- Belching: Belching happens due to surplus gas that forms by drinking excess jeera water. It can also lead to foul-smelling burps.
Nutritional Composition of Jeera
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Jeera Water Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it Safe to Drink Cumin Water at Night?
Yes. If consumed moderately, you can drink jeera water at any time of the day.
2. How Frequently and when can we Consume Jeera Water in a Day?
As mentioned above, moderation is the key when it comes to jeera water. Ideally, consuming jeera water before and after meals is a good option as it ensures proper digestion and helps regulate the blood sugar level.
3. Does Jeera Water Help Reduce Belly Fat?
Drinking jeera water on an empty stomach is known to reduce belly fat as it helps regulate insulin, prevents indigestion, and boosts metabolism.
Jeera has many medicinal properties and is known to improve an individual’s general health. When consumed in moderation, jeera water promotes digestion, improves the heart, respiratory and liver health. It also helps reduce food-borne illnesses, boosts immunity and can help regulate blood sugar levels.