Cumin Seeds Health Benefits and Nutrition Facts

Nutritional summary

Cumin seeds are a concentrated source of polyphenols (naturally occurring plant compounds) and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, which contribute to their biological activity in the diet .
Dietary guidelines in several countries, including the United States and Australia, recommend using herbs and spices like cumin as a strategy to flavor foods while potentially improving diet quality .
Black cumin seeds contain thymoquinone, a bioactive compound that has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in laboratory settings .
Early research in animal models suggests that cumin may influence phase II enzymes (proteins involved in detoxification) and could help suppress certain types of chromosomal damage, though human clinical evidence for cancer prevention is currently limited .

Interesting fact

In ancient Greece, cumin was so common that it was kept in its own container at the dining table, much like pepper is today.

Standout nutrients

EPIC

SOURCE

Iron

EPIC

SOURCE

Manganese

EPIC

SOURCE

Magnesium

EPIC

SOURCE

Potassium

428

kcal per 100g

Protein17.8g

Fat22.3g

Carbs31.5g

Fiber10.5g

Sugar2.27g

Fat breakdown

Polyunsat3.28g

Monounsat14.0g

Saturated1.54g

Seasonality

Not available

Diet

VeganVegetarianPescatarianGluten FreeDairy FreeKetoLow FodmapPaleo

Sustainability

Lighter footprint

Spices generally have a low environmental footprint due to high flavor potency and low weight.

Confidencemedium

Storage

Airtight Container

1–2 years

Store in a cool, dark place to preserve volatile oils

Away From Direct Sunlight

1–2 years

Flavour

Data & Sources

Harmonized from 3 validated sources

French Food Database

1 contributing source food

Phenol-Explorer

1 contributing source food

McCance & Widdowson

1 contributing source food

Claim citations

Utilizing Nutritional and Polyphenolic Compounds in Underutilized Plant Seeds for Health Application - PMC

[2]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Black Cumin Seed - LiverTox - NCBI Bookshelf

[8]www.ncbi.nlm.nih.govncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Herbs and Spices in Cancer Prevention and Treatment - NCBI - NIH

[9]www.ncbi.nlm.nih.govncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Herbs and spices at a relatively high culinary dosage improves 24 ...

[11]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Coverage

Nutrients

FoodCompass

87.0

Version

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