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Miracle Spice: Cumin Helps With Weight Loss and Gastrointestinal Problems

Cumin is best known for its taste – but the oriental spice can do much more. Studies have shown that cumin helps with weight loss. Cumin also relieves stomach problems and can even have a stress-reducing effect.

Studies show: weight loss and lower BMI thanks to cumin

Targeted weight loss is often not that easy: Some foods are actually real calorie bombs – but this does not include cumin, as a study published in 2014 by the “Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences” shows. It involved 88 overweight women who were randomly divided into two groups. One of the two groups ate plain yogurt with three grams of cumin twice a day. The second group also got two portions of yoghurt per day – but without the addition of cumin. As the authors of the study report, the diet plans of the two groups were otherwise identical.

The result is quite remarkable: the cumin powder helped, among other things, to lose more weight and fat mass. In addition, the body mass index (BMI) and the waist circumference decreased. In summary, the authors of the study state that cumin powder in a weight-reducing diet shows an improvement in anthropometric and biochemical parameters in overweight or obese women.

A study by the Iranian “Kashan University of Medical Sciences” with 78 subjects between the ages of 18 and 60 also caused a stir. The participants were divided into three groups and had to swallow one capsule three times a day for eight weeks. One group received a cumin capsule, and another group received a fat blocker capsule. The third group only received a placebo. The results showed that the cumin group achieved about as much weight loss and reduction in BMI as the fat-blocker-agent group. Subjects who only received a placebo lost less weight. In addition, taking cumin had a positive effect on insulin metabolism

Aid in digestion and stress-reducing effect

The essential oils of the spice, which account for up to six percent, are also healthy. Cuminaldehyde is particularly valuable because its intake stimulates the formation of various digestive juices, such as gastric juice and pancreas. In this way, cumin helps to improve the digestive process. This function can be used in dishes that often cause digestive problems.

Cumin is also said to help with various intestinal complaints, such as constipation. An Indian study published in 2014 also showed that cumin helps with diarrhea by inhibiting the frequency of diarrhea, for example. Flatulence and discomfort are also said to be alleviated by eating cumin.

In addition, cumin is said to have other positive effects: a study with rats showed that cumin seeds can have a stress-reducing effect. The anti-inflammatory effect is also interesting

Cumin in the kitchen: healing properties in tea

In the kitchen we can also benefit from the taste and the positive effects. A popular tea is cumin, which can help with indigestion. Only a few ingredients are required for the preparation: cumin seeds, ginger – a real all-purpose weapon – honey and lemon.

Difficult to digest meals can also be enriched with cumin. Recipes with peas, lentils or beans quickly trigger digestive problems – the addition of cumin can prevent this.

Little is known about the side effects of cumin. However, those suffering from diabetes should be more careful: Since the consumption of cumin lowers blood sugar levels, the blood sugar balance can be shaken.

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Tips for Gastrointestinal Complaints

Gastrointestinal problems can be very uncomfortable. Anyone who suffers from it and has been able to rule out a food intolerance or gastrointestinal disease by a doctor should adjust their diet and avoid flatulent foods and exercise and relax sufficiently.

Causes of gastrointestinal problems

The gastrointestinal tract regulates the absorption of food and digestion. But more and more people are suffering from gastrointestinal problems such as constipation, diarrhea, and a feeling of fullness or flatulence. There are many reasons for gastrointestinal complaints, such as unhealthy nutrition, eating too quickly, work-related constant sitting at a desk, and too little exercise, or stress. There are ways to do something about it. Three good tips for gastrointestinal complaints are explained below.

Tips to alleviate the discomfort

The symptoms usually develop very quickly within a few hours. Many sufferers mainly complain about flatulence. How are they formed? What are possible causes? Flatulence, what to do? When it comes to gastrointestinal complaints, it should always be remembered that these are only the symptoms and not the causes. Millions of people in this country suffer from long-term gastrointestinal complaints. It is important to determine the causes in order to end the suffering. This can significantly reduce the quality of life. The following three tips can help:

1) Change diet

The cause often lies in the diet. If you suffer from gastrointestinal problems, it is best to avoid flatulent foods such as cabbage and legumes as often as possible. Digestive problems can also occur as a result of eating too quickly and too greasy food, as well as not having enough fiber-rich foods. Food intolerances such as lactose or fructose intolerance sometimes also lead to flatulence and pain. It is therefore important to rule this out. Probiotic foods and digestive teas can also provide relief. The digestive tract is also disturbed by the consumption of stimulants such as alcohol and nicotine.

2) Avoid stress

Gastrointestinal complaints and diseases are often caused by stress and other psychological problems. In this case, the vegetative nervous system becomes unbalanced. It’s said for nothing that stress can upset your stomach. It is therefore important to create a balance, for example through relaxation measures. In this way, stress can be reduced in the long term.

3) Get enough exercise

Lack of exercise can affect bowel activity. Above all, people who sit a lot during work should get up again and again and create a balance in their free time. Going for a walk during the lunch break, cycling every now and then and leaving the car at home, using the stairs instead of the elevator, there are various ways to integrate more exercise into everyday life. This can stimulate digestion and prevent gastrointestinal problems.

Flatulence and gastrointestinal complaints – when to see a doctor?

If there is no improvement, the symptoms such as severe flatulence or pain last longer or are persistent, a doctor should be consulted. Behind the complaints there can be more than just harmless causes of gastrointestinal flu. Serious diseases such as inflammation of the gastric mucosa (gastritis) or a stomach ulcer are also possible. Another warning sign is when there is blood in the stool, for example, due to an infection with Campylobacter or E. coli strains such as EHEC.

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Light Diet for Diarrhea: Recipes for Light Food for Gastrointestinal

Bland food helps you with diarrhea and other gastrointestinal diseases. We give you tips and show you two simple recipes that support your body.

Problems in the gastrointestinal tract can have various causes, such as greasy food or a food intolerance. Viruses are usually the cause of gastrointestinal flu. Symptoms can be very uncomfortable, including diarrhea, nausea, and/or vomiting.

There are different types of diarrhea, but they all have one thing in common: your body loses a lot of fluids in a short period of time. You should therefore make sure that you drink plenty of non-carbonated water in sips throughout the day. Unsweetened chamomile tea, peppermint tea, or fennel tea can also soothe your digestive tract.

If severe diarrhea lasts longer than three days or is bloody, you should definitely seek medical advice.

Light diet for diarrhea: You should avoid these foods

Don’t eat raw vegetables. Boiled or steamed vegetables are better tolerated.
Avoid hot spices like pepper, chili, or garlic. Instead, use fresh herbs like fennel, caraway, or anise.
Avoid fat. If you only have mild diarrhea, feel free to sauté your food in a small amount of oil, but avoid fried and breaded foods. Skip the oil if you have severe diarrhea.
Avoid legumes. Although they are generally very healthy, they are difficult to digest due to their complex protein structure and are therefore not advisable if you have diarrhea. The same goes for nuts.
Avoid foods that cause gas, such as cabbage, onions, or sauerkraut.
Avoid sugar. Any sweets or sugar in tea should be off-limits during your diarrhea bland diet – the sugar overwhelms your already weakened intestinal mucosa. That’s why coke, for example, doesn’t help with diarrhea.
It is not for nothing that they say: well chewed is half digested. If you prepare your food as a puree or soup, you can support your digestion.

In general, the following applies to diarrhea:

Eat little, drink a lot!
Eat small portions throughout the day.

Light diet for diarrhea: These foods are good for you

Since your intestines are already irritated, you should take a closer look when choosing foods. It is important that the food continues to provide you with vitamins and all the important nutrients while protecting your digestion. Watery, easily digestible vegetables are particularly gentle on your stomach and intestines and help you to rebalance your fluid balance:

carrots
zucchini
pumpkin
Beetroot
Also well tolerated are supplements such as:

potatoes
rice
zwieback
oatmeal
Rice gruel (our recipe: rice gruel for diarrhea)

These foods provide you with nutrients and have a constipating effect. Treatment with psyllium husks can also be helpful. Mix a tablespoon of psyllium husk in a glass of water and sip it all before your first meal.

When it comes to fruit, it is best to use fruits that contain a lot of pectin, such as:

very finely grated apple
grated bananas
The pectin helps you bind excess liquid and thus has a constipating effect. By grating the fruit finely, your body can absorb the pectin better.

Proven light diet for diarrhea: carrot soup

Carrots bind excess fluid in the intestines and can help relieve diarrhea.

If you cook carrots long enough, so-called oligosaccharides are formed, which are tiny sugar molecules. Since they are similar to the intestinal receptors, the pathogens are bound from the intestine and excreted more quickly.

We will show you a simple but effective recipe by Dr. Moro:

Ingredients:

500 grams of carrots
1 liter of water
1 pinch of salt
optional: turmeric
Wash the carrots and cut them into pieces.
Put them in a suitable pot.
Add the water and bring the contents to a simmer.
If the carrots are easy to mash with a fork, you can puree them.
Season the soup with a pinch of salt. Optionally, you can use some turmeric as it has an anti-inflammatory effect. You should avoid other spices until your intestines are feeling better.
In total, the soup should simmer for around an hour so that the oligosaccharides can be released from the carrots. You can eat the soup several times throughout the day to relieve your symptoms.

Light diet for diarrhea: oatmeal in different variations

Cooked oatmeal is easy to digest, yet high in fiber, carbohydrates, and protein. They give you energy again and can support you in your recovery process.

Here is a simple basic recipe for the wholesome porridge.

Ingredients:

1 cup oatmeal
2 cups of water
1 pinch of salt
Optional: carrots, grated apple or mashed banana
How to prepare oatmeal:

First mix the oatmeal with the water in a suitable saucepan.
Then bring the flakes to a simmer and add the salt.
Keep stirring the porridge over low heat until it reaches the desired consistency.

Depending on your preference, you can make oatmeal sweet or savory. For a savory version, simply add a chopped carrot while cooking. Another variation is oatmeal soup.

If you prefer sweet oatmeal, you can finely grate an apple and stir it into the porridge. Since the peel contains a particularly large amount of pectin, it is best to grate the apple with the peel and let it rest for about ten minutes before using it. This allows the pectin to unfold its stuffing effect particularly well.

Another option is bananas. They also contain the valuable pectin and have a constipating effect. It is best to mash the banana with a fork beforehand and stir it into the simmering porridge.

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