Ajwain seeds, also known as carom seeds are annual plants belonging to the genera Caromus and Zedoary. It is a herb with small white flowers that grow in long spikes. Thought to have originated in SW Asia, ajwain benefits are known around the world, while recent studies have found that it exhibits estrogenic properties.
Ajwain seeds are often used as an ingredient in cuisine or are consumed either raw or roasted for the health benefits they offer. More recently, they have also been popularly used for indigestion and stomach gas prevention.
Nutritional Value of Ajwain
Ajwain seeds are rich in protein, manganese and iron, among others. The minerals present include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. Their carbohydrate content is low with a negligible amount of fats. The seeds also contain vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin and thiamine.
Ajwain Health Benefits
Ajwain's benefits are evident in them been used as an anti-inflammatory agent for centuries. It is believed to aid digestion and enhance the digestive process making it easier to digest foods. Ajwain seeds also help fight infectious bacteria in the body, including Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis and Enterobacter aerogenes.
Improves Digestion:
Ajwain seeds are known to be excellent in helping with indigestion, stomach ulcers and all types of digestion problems. The seeds help reduce the risk of allergic reactions due to food allergies, thus helping people with ailments such as celiac disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Fights Peptic Ulcers:
Ajwain seeds are used in ayurvedic medicine because they help reduce the pain and inflammation of peptic ulcers. It is also believed that this herb boosts the immune system, thus protecting against virus and bacteria attacks. Ajwain's benefits also include better digestion, preventing constipation, treating gastrointestinal problems and restoring a healthy digestive system.
Stimulates Immunity:
Ajwain seeds contain a high amount of vitamin C along with iron and thiamine which increase the immune system. This, therefore, makes it useful for fighting infection caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi. Ajwain benefits include the ability to fight infections like hepatitis, gonorrhoea and mastitis.
Prevents Inflammation:
Inflammation and pain are prevented by the use of this herb due to the anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic compounds it contains. Ajwain is used in many herbal teas as a remedy for colds, coughs and sore throat. It can also be used as an anti-inflammatory in preventing internal injuries, wounds and burns.
Combats Breath and Dental Problems:
Ajwain seeds also help prevent bad breath as they help remove accumulated mucus in the respiratory tract with their antiseptic properties. It also helps strengthen the lungs and fight infection.
Carom seeds' benefits enable them to be known and used as an effective remedy for gum diseases. It has been used in the treatment of gums, bile ducts, stomach disorders, and mouth ulcers. It has since been found that it reduces cavity-causing bacteria on teeth. Ajwain is useful in treating gum diseases like gingivitis, periodontitis and halitosis by reducing plaque formation and killing bad bacteria on the teeth.
Lowers Blood Pressure And Improves Blood Circulation:
Ajwain seeds are also helpful in lowering blood pressure by reducing the amount of cholesterol in the blood. They also help prevent damage to the heart by eliminating cholesterol from the arteries thus helping to reduce high blood pressure. Ajwain seeds have been shown to improve blood circulation by removing blood toxins and lowering cholesterol levels. The oil of this plant can be used topically on the skin or taken orally.
When consumed orally, it helps maintain healthy heartbeats by increasing blood circulation. The is considered to be an important herb for the heart because it possesses antiarrhythmic properties and helps regulate the electrical activity of the heart muscles.
Treating Arthritis:
The use of this plant has been known to help treat arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce swelling and pain. Ajwain benefits include a huge reduction of discomfort and swelling, making it possible for people with arthritis to move around more freely. This can be achieved by rubbing ajwain oil on affected joints or consuming it orally.
Improves Cholesterol Levels:
Ajwain also helps lower cholesterol levels as it acts as a blood purifier. According to studies, it reduces the number of triglycerides in the body thus making it beneficial for lowering cholesterol. This herb helps prevent heart problems and high blood pressure. Ajwain benefits the human body by helping reduce cholesterol levels by up to 48 per cent.
Soothes Muscles:
Because ajwain seeds are rich in essential oils like carvone, limonene and thymol, they are used for massaging sore muscles to ease aches and pains. Ajwain benefits include the ability to relax tight muscles, allowing for more freedom of movement. It even improves circulation by eliminating toxins from body tissues and lower blood pressure. It is commonly used in massage or as an aromatherapy oil for muscle fatigue, inflammation and pain relief.
The ajwain benefits are very beneficial to the human body because of its healing properties that help combat many health problems in the body. The carom seeds are also recognized to be a very potent herbal medicine due to their wide range of uses in treating numerous chronic illnesses that people suffer from every day.
Other Health Benefits of Carom Seed (Ajwain)
Improve Cognitive Function:
The ajwain herb benefits are also due to its ability to help improve mental function. It aids in the oxygenation of tissues, thus improving mental function, memory and learning abilities. Ajwain also helps boost brain activity by increasing the flow of oxygenated blood and nutrients within the brain cell synapses thus improving cognitive function.
The herb also encourages the proper functioning of memory centres as we age, thereby helping with Alzheimer's disease.
Ajwain benefits include improved cognitive function by decreasing the fat deposits in the brain and preventing the premature ageing of brain cells. The herb helps maintain or improve brain health.
Protects Eyes:
The ajwain benefits include its anti-oxidant properties that help protect eyes from free radicals thus helping to prevent macular degeneration, cataracts and other eye-related diseases. It also controls blood sugar levels in the body and reduces the risk of blindness caused by diabetes mellitus. Ajwain is used in treating eye problems by dilating blood vessels around the eyes to provide fresh oxygenated blood flow as well as fight infections like conjunctivitis and scleritis.
Conclusion
It is therefore deduced that the carom seeds benefits can be very beneficial to our health and general well-being. This is because it helps provide many of the necessary nutrients that we need to be healthy and free from disease.
The carom seeds are also considered to be one of the most important herbs for their benefits in detoxifying the body and eliminating toxins from it. In fact, carom seeds are often used in herbal medicine as a detoxifying agent for human bodies.
The ajwain herb contains about 14 different constituents that have been shown to have healing properties such as helping fight cancer, diabetes and other inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Carom seeds are very beneficial to the body. They can be added to soups, stews, and meat dishes and they have a unique flavour, mixing well with other herbs.
FAQs
Is it ok to take ajwain seeds every day?
It is safe and advisable to eat carom seeds every day. You can eat either fresh seeds or dry powder.
What are the medicinal Ajwain benefits?
Carom seeds are known for their medicinal benefits, some of which include protection from tooth decay and gum disease in addition to helping in lowering blood cholesterol levels, fighting infections, stimulating digestion, treating constipation and regulating the menstrual cycle.