Health properties of Black seeds and Chia seeds

Black seeds

The seeds of a flowering plant, Nigella Sativa, have been prized for their healing properties since time immemorial.  While frequently referred to as Roman coriander, black sesame, black cumin, black caraway and onion seed, it is known today primarily as black seed.  

 

Many health benefits of black seeds have been thoroughly confirmed in the biomedical literature.

 

In fact, there are over 40 health conditions that may be benefited from the use of the herb, including over 20 distinct pharmacological actions it expresses, such as:Analgesic (Pain-Killing), Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Ulcer, Anti-Cholinergic, Anti-Fungal, Anti-Hypertensive,  Antioxidant, Antispasmodic, Antiviral, Bronchodilator, Gluconeogenesis Inhibitor (Anti-Diabetic),  Hepatoprotective (Liver Protecting), Hypotensive, Insulin Sensitizing, Interferon Inducer,  Leukotriene Antagonist, Renoprotective (Kidney Protecting), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Inhibitor.

These pharmacological actions are only a subset of a far wider number of beneficial properties intrinsic to the black seeds. Some of the most compelling applications include:

Type 2 Diabetes: Two grams of black seeds a day resulted in reduced fasting glucose and decreased insulin resistance.

Helicobacter Pylori Infection:Black seeds possess clinically useful anti- Helicobacter pylori activity, comparable to triple eradication therapy. 

Epilepsy: Black seeds were traditionally known to have anticonvulsive properties.

 

High Blood pressure: The daily use of 100 and 200 mg of black seed extract, twice daily, for 2 months, was found to have a blood pressure-lowering effect in patients with mild hypertension.

 

Asthma: Thymoquinone, one of the main active constituents within black seeds, is superior to the drug fluticasone in an animal model of asthma. The boiled water extracts of black seeds have relatively potent antiasthmatic effect on asthmatic airways. 

 

Acute tonsillopharyngitis: Black seed capsules (in combination with Phyllanthus niruri) have been found to significantly alleviate throat pain, and reduce the need for pain-killers, in human subjects.

 

Chemical Weapons Injury: A randomized, placebo-controlled human study of chemical weapons injured patients found that boiled water extracts of black seeds reduced respiratory symptoms, chest wheezing, and pulmonary function test values, as well as reduced the need for drug treatment.

 

Colon Cancer: black seed extract compares favorably to the chemoagent 5-fluoruracil in the suppression of colon cancer growth, without observable side effects.

 

MRSA: Black seeds have anti-bacterial activity against clinical isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

 

Opiate Addiction/Withdrawal: A study on 35 opiate addicts found black seeds as an effective therapy in long-term treatment of opioid dependence.

 

Chia seeds

The same as black seeds with long time medical history, Chia seeds have been used as a food and raw material for medicines since as early as 3500 B.C. For centuries, chia seeds were a staple in the diets of tribes, now becoming one of best weight loss foods as people feel full after eating it.

 

According to the USDA, one ounce (28 gram) serving of chia seeds contains 9 grams of fat, 5 milligrams of sodium, 11 grams of dietary fiber and 4 grams of protein. The seeds have 18% of the recommended daily intake of calcium, 27% phosphorus and 30% manganese, similar in nutrient content to other edible seeds such as flax or sesame.

 

Chia seeds are regarded as super food. Its omega-3 fatty acid content is the highest among plants, while containing a lot of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and amino acids at the same time.

 

When we compare its nutrient content with other foods, we get surprising results: 

Calcium: 13-354 times as that of wheat, rice, barley, oats and corn, and five times as that of milk. 

Phosphorus: 2-12 times as that of wheat, rice, barley, oats and corn and 12 times as that of milk.

 

Magnesium: 15 times of broccoli.

Potassium: 1.6-9 times of wheat, rice, barley, oats and corn, 2 times of bananas, 4.6 times of milk.

Iron: More than 6 times of spinach, 1.8 times of lentils and 2.4 times of beef liver.

 

Antioxidant capacity: three times of blueberries.