The seeds of the ajwain herb, Trachyspermum ammi, are known as carom seeds. They’re a common ingredient in Indian cooking.
Carom seeds are the fruit of the ajwain herb, and are referred to as “seeds.”
They have a strong, bitter taste and are somewhat green to brown in colour.
Taste and Appearance:
It has a thyme-like aroma and resembles fennel and cumin seeds in appearance. Due to the bitter undertones and powerful flavour, it tastes more like oregano and anise. Due to its pungency, a small amount goes a long way. Ajwain, also known as carom seeds or bishops weed, is grown in India and Iran and is rarely eaten uncooked. Instead, it is cooked before being added to a recipe. It comes in two forms: seeds and powder, though seeds are more commonly used in cooking.
Carom, like coriander, cumin, and fennel, is a member of the Apiaceae (or Umbelliferae) plant family. The shrub’s leaves are feathery, and the plant’s fruit—also known as seeds—is pale khaki in colour, ridged in texture, and oval in shape. Ajwain has been utilised in Indian, Middle Eastern, and African cuisines since ancient times for cooking and medicinal uses.
They’re commonly sold whole, but they can also be processed into a powder and used as a spice in cooking.
Carom seeds are high in fibre, antioxidants, and other vitamins and minerals, making them extremely healthy. As a result, they’ve been linked to health advantages and have long been employed in traditional Indian medicine.
Origin of Carom Seeds
Persia (Iran) and Asia Minor are regarded to be the origins of the Carom plant (what is now Turkey). It then moved to India, and it is currently grown in the Middle East and North Africa as well. Carom is also known as ajowan caraway, ajave seeds, ajvain, ajwan, Ethiopian cumin, omam, and omum in different parts of the world.
Common names of Carom Seeds
| Carom seeds in Hindi | Ajwain(अजवाइन), Ajowan |
| Carom seeds in Tamil | ஓமம் |
| Carom seeds in Telugu | క్యారమ్ విత్తనాలు |
| Carom seeds in Marathi | अजवाइन (कॅरम) बियाणे |
| Carom seeds in Kannada | ಅಜ್ವೈನ್ಕ್ಯಾ (ರಮ್ ಬೀಜಗಳು) |
| Carom seeds in Malayalam | അജ്വെയ്ൻ |
Carrom Seeds Nutritional Content
Here is the nutrition value of Carom Seeds per 100 grams of serving:
- Total Calories: 305
- Total Fat: 25 gm
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 43 gm
- Proteins: 16 gm
- Fibre: 21.2 %
Health benefits of Carom Seeds
1. Relief from Acidity and Indigestion
One of the most important health benefits of Carom seeds is that it keeps your stomach robust, which is why your mother never forgets to include it in your meals.
An unsettled stomach causes the most disruption to our regular routine. By stimulating the release of gastric juices, the active enzymes in carom aid to improve our digestive functions.
Combine 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon carom seeds, and 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder in a small bowl. Take this mixture with water on a daily basis to relieve heartburn.
2. Common Cold Treatment
Carom seeds aids in the easy discharge of mucus, which helps to avoid nose blockage. To feel better, make a mixture of carom seeds and jaggery by heating them together and taking 2 teaspoons twice a day.
This also aids in the treatment of respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. Take carom seeds powder in a thin handkerchief and inhale it frequently or keep it under your pillow to relieve a migraine headache.
3. Improve cholesterol levels
Carom seeds have been shown in animal studies to decrease cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Heart disease is linked to high cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Carom seed powder was found to lower total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in rabbits in one research.
Similarly, carom seed extract was found to be helpful in lowering total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels while increasing heart-protective HDL (good) cholesterol levels in rats (7Trusted Source).
Nonetheless, carom seed powder was only successful at treating high cholesterol levels in both experiments when given at large amounts that you wouldn’t get from eating the seeds in a regular diet.
More research is needed to see how the seeds effect cholesterol levels in people.
4. Has anti-inflammatory properties
It has anti-inflammatory properties.
Inflammation can be beneficial or harmful. Inflammation is your body’s natural way of protecting itself against illness or injury for a short period of time.
Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, can harm your body and raise your chance of developing certain diseases.
Carom seeds have anti-inflammatory properties and may help to reduce inflammation in the body.
Supplementing with carom seed extract provided strong anti-inflammatory effects in rats, according to a study.
In a recent study, arthritis-induced mice fed carom seed extract for 21 days showed improved inflammatory indicators, including decreased elastase levels, an enzyme-linked to inflammation.
Scientists determined that carom seed extract may have potential as a therapy for inflammatory disease, while additional research is needed.
5. Pain in the ears and teeth
Two drops of Carom seeds oil are enough to relieve a dreadful ear discomfort. Gargle with a mixture of lukewarm water, 1 teaspoon Carom seeds, and salt for immediate toothache relief. An painful tooth can be relieved simply by inhaling the smoke of burning Carom seeds. It also works as a mouthwash and helps to maintain proper oral hygiene.
6. To Prevent Hair Greying
Carom seeds prevent hair from greying prematurely. In a single cup of water, simmer curry leaves, dry grapes, sugar, and carom seeds to make this concoction. Drink one glass of this every day until you notice a difference.
greying hair. Carom seeds prevent hair from greying prematurely.
7. Skin Cleansing
Acne scars can be lightened with the usage of Carom powder. Apply a paste to the affected region and leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing. This efficient home remedy can greatly aid in the removal of dirt from the skin.
8. Relieves Pain
As a result of Arthritis Carom seeds have two properties that aid in the treatment of arthritis. They have antibacterial qualities that help to reduce redness and inflammation, as well as anaesthetic properties that help to relieve pain and swelling. Apply a paste of crushed seeds to the joints as a home cure, or soak in a tub of hot water with a handful of carom seeds.
The Bottom Line
Carom seeds have long been employed in Ayurvedic treatment and traditional Indian food.
They’ve been demonstrated to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and they could help with gastric ulcers, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
However, the majority of information comes from animal and test-tube studies, and more research is needed to fully comprehend the health advantages of carom seeds in humans.
Carom seeds are generally thought to be harmless for most individuals. The seeds, on the other hand, are not safe for pregnant women because they have been linked to foetal damage.
