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Through ages man have been in search of spices that
has proved to be good satiating teasers for the taste buds and as well as
strong in therapeutic effect keeping the body equilibrium . These spices have
protected man from the ill health and have kept the various ailments at bay.
Jeera or Cumin seed – the shahi jeera in hindi has almost hundred therapeutic
effect and is a spice quite often mentioned in the Ayurveda and liked by all
human beings on earth. The sharp taste and the beautiful aroma of the spice has
made men experiment with it . Other than in medicine and restaurants, jeera is
used in pubs also to mix with mocktails bringing out good flavor of the drinks
which are served to connoisseurs of cutomers.

Jeera or cumin seeds, botanically called (cuminum
cynium) is a wonder among spices . Other than being a delicate spice which is a
marvelous appetizer, jeera seeds and jeera powder has ayurvedic effect. Lovely
meals are made with jeera. Liberal mix of jeera with meal is found because it
promotes digestion. Jeera rice is a favorite of all restaurants. Jeera fish is
the recipe which the Bengalis and Konkanis relish in their meal. The famous
jeera illish a recipe of cumin and Solomon not only satiates the taste buds,
but is much healthier to eat.

&nbsp;Jeera has
essential vitamins and minerals. It has vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin c,
vitamin D, viamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6. Other than that it
has riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, choline and thiamin. 

With the rich anti-bacterial property, jeera fights
strong as an anti-bacterial agent, against bacterial attacks, worms,
flatulence. 

Homemade remedies from jeera reduce diseases that are
borne out of water and also take care of the whole gastro-intestinal part like
liver, stomach and intestine. Jeera with water makes a delicious drink – the
jal jeera or jeera water which along with the delicious taste is a great
reliever of gastro-trouble. Other than curing all kinds of digestive problems
jeera cures all kind . In the summer months the cola stalls in India do hefty
business selling Jal jeera to thirsty customers.&nbsp; 

Grounded jeera seeds consumed with water or honey is
good laxative and improves digestion. However the same can be had with tea also.
Jeera powder with boiled tea enhances the digestive power and is a great weight
reducer. Someone who wants to get slim quickly must try to take some jeera
water or jeera tea as regular sip and decrease the toxin levels in the body
that causes bloating and also increases body mass.

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The high fibre content of jeera affects the digestive
system and helps release enzymes becoming a natural laxative by itself. Jeera
has been found in researches to imbibe properties that helps fight cancer and
also can act as a healing agent during chemo therapy. However the anti-cancer
properties are more dominant in kala jeera, a black and smaller variety of the
cumin seeds. 

Jeera seeds with crushed ginger make a good remedy for
asthma and inflammation. In a cup of boiled water, two spoonsful of jeera mixed
with crushed ginger relieves throat soar, asthma and cold. Because of the anti-
inflammatory and anti-fungal effects jeera stands as a strong cure for all type
of cold and asthmatic problem. The warming effects and anti-allergic properties
make the spice a sure cure for all kinds of cold.

Presence of electrolyte contents in high quantities
make the jeera spice good for heart patients and act as a good regulator of
blood pressure. The jeera normalizes the circulation of the body and enables in
maintaining the blood flow to normal. It also keeps normal the body temperature
and maintains pressure at the minimum.

Jeera keeps the balance of vayu, pitta , kafa, that is
air, bile and mucous in the body . The balance in the body is maintained by the
equilibrium of these elements and jeera keeps them to the normal balancing
level. 

The Ayurveda prescribes jeera for a number of ailments
like sour smelling, throat burning, belching, bloating, nausea, lack of
lactation in pregnant mothers, burning sensation around intestine, heaviness in
the body and sour vomiting. 

Jeera with coriander and misri ( sugar cube) forms a
one –in-all cure for many diseases. In Ayrveda jeera arq and jeera churna with
various other other ingredients form wonderccul cures for some diseases and
chronic ailments. Jeera is an instant cure for diahreea as well as for aneamia.
Jeera powder contains large portion of iron in it and hence taking jeera in
liberal doses brings down the anemic disorder in people. 

Riboflavin, vitamin B6 and niacin are good for
releasing happy hormones of the brain and hence jeera can induce good sleep and
keeps away insomnia and also works as vitaliser of memory. It induces sleep and
helps the brain to function well by charging the memory cells.Thus jeera is a
wonderful medicine for the brain as well. 

The sharp and slightly hot taste of the spice along
with a good aroma make it favourite of all kind of foodies whether they are veg
or non-veg. Even the street foods like pani-puris, jhal muri and samosa has
good doses of jeera powder or crushed jeera to make them allure the saliva of
the eager customers. When we smell of the pani puris on street we are actually
smelling jeera powder and the tamarind water that makes a nice concoction of
water to go with the pani puri and we cannot but stop to ask the vendor to give
us a plate of sal leaves to enjoy having the gol gappa.

Jeera rice is something of a recipe without which the
restaurants can not simply do these days . A liberal amount of roasted jeera
mixed with good quality boiled basmati rise makes wonderful meal for any
occasion. The dish goes with both veg and non – veg menu and can be had dry
with crisp fries or with gravies of all kinds. The delicious dish comes cheap
to the pocket but that does not undermine its taste.

None the less Shahi jeera are used in preparing polau
also and are cooked as Jeera Pulao. The vegetables cut into cubes are fried and
are mixed with raisin, almonds, cashew nuts. Then a liberal amount of jeera is
roasted and kept aside. Half of the roasted jeera is grounded into fine paste.
On the boiled hot basmati rice, the mixtures of vegetables, nuts and raisings
are poured. Then the jeera powder is mixed and dhaken to make the dish of polao
turn delicious ly aromatic and tickling the tastebuds into salivation. The
jeera pulao was taken by the nawabs and the maharajas in the medieval India.

Jeera aloo dum is also a well -known recipe which is
cheaper yet very satiating to the taste buds . Boiled potatoes are fried on
moderate amount of the shahi jeera spice. The fried pottoes are sauted on oil
or better still yogurt with ripe red chilli, ginger paste and garlic paste.
According to taste and climate , souring agent like tamarind or tomato puree
may be added to make it smacking tasty. The mixture is then sautéed on moderate
heat and brought down after a simmer. The recipe is&nbsp; good to have with roti or as evening snack.
Whichever way it is had it allures the taste bud to have more and remains
unsatisfied with the taste.

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Another wonderful recipe is the jeera illish of the
Bengalis. The Solomon fish is cooked with crushed roasted cumin . First the
fish is de-scaled and cut open in the middle. Its belly is emptied and washed
thoroughly. It is then chopped to pieces. In a closed lid pot the pieces of
fish are kept with ample spread of jeera paste mixed with red chillies and salt
and turmeric. Yogurt paste does wonder and the best taste comes from the
portion of fish that comes from th. e belly portion . The recipe is an alternate
and a healthier version of mustard illish or sorshe illish as it is muc.h
lighter and does not have the burning sensation aroused by mustard&nbsp; 

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In short cumin or jeera has been used as a wonder
spice to satisfy the taste buds and as well as nurture the therapeutic and
medicinal effects of the spice in the day to day life. Pub masters earn in
dollars using the spice in drinks as much as does the street stalls of cola
sellers . The spice with anti -flatulence effects on the taker makes tasty and
deserving colas . The numerous benefits which has been listed ranging from
digestion aid, helping lactation, anti –cancer effects make the spice a daily
requirement in the food habit of the people all over the world. Grandmothers’
recipes like cumin ginger and misri does the wonder rounds as has been
explained already. There is little to mention about the various tasty dishes
that are made with jeera powder, roasted jeera seeds and jeera paste bringing
in piquancy to the platter.

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The innumerable uses of cumin seeds - jeera

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