On average, 3 out of 5 people in the world experience a form of chronic inflammatory disease such as stroke, obesity, cancer, diabetes and more. What's equally, if not more alarming, is that many deaths worldwide are linked to bacteria, with around 1.27 million deaths in 2019.
While you can't stop death, you can prolong it with lifestyle measures such as a healthy diet. But today, we're not here to talk about your five-a-day or simple adjustments to make; we're focusing on black seed oil.
Black seed oil could be the herbal ingredient missing from your diet. Known worldwide for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, this oil has existed for over 2000 years.
Dive in to know why you should add it to your diet today.
What is black seed oil?
Black seed oil is an herbal ingredient made from the small seeds of the plant Nigella sativa (N. Sativa). It's also known as black cumin, kalonji, black onion, or black caraway. Black seed oil typically originates in hot countries in North Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southwest Asia.
It's no new discovery that the seeds have been used as a natural remedy for thousands of years and also to add flavour to curries, bread, and pickles.
Thymoquinone, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound, makes black seed oil popular. This natural drug is starting to be used more in natural medicines to treat many chronic diseases due to its high amount of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties. Its origins can be traced back to ancient Egyptian and Greek medicine, which was used to treat headaches, flu, toothaches, parasites, and more.
What are the benefits of black seed oil?
Black seed oil has a ton of benefits that may help enhance the quality of your day-to-day life, such as:
May support weight management
Black seed oil could support weight management with a healthy diet and fitness routine. Emerging research from a 2021 study shows that taking black seed oil daily may help reduce BMI, body weight, waist circumference and body fat. The compound thymoquinone may help speed up metabolic health.
Help reduce acne
Due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, black seed oil could help reduce acne's severity. In 2020, a study revealed that black seed oil added to a topical gel helped reduce acne by 78% after twice daily application for 60 days. Black seed oil is also thought to help regulate sebum production, unclog pores, and strengthen the skin barrier. However, more research is needed to confirm this.
It could help treat asthma
Asthma is a chronic condition in which the linings of the airways swell and cause the muscles around them to constrict, making breathing difficult. Research shows that thymoquinone in black seed oil could help relax the muscles in the lungs, reducing inflammation and making breathing easier. However, larger and longer studies are needed to assess the benefits of black seed oil in asthma.
May support the treatment of Vitiligo
There's growing research that also shows that black seed oil can help treat Vitiligo, a condition that causes the skin to lose pigmentation. Research reveals that 33 people who took black seed oil in a skin cream application improved their pigmentation in hands, face, and genital area after 6 months. It's thought that black seed oil can help increase the ability to spread melanin (a natural pigment) found in the skin, hair, and eyes.
Could help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Black seed oil is thought to be potentially effective for reducing blood sugar and cholesterol. One study shows that one in 90 obese adults and another in 72 adults with type 2 diabetes found that those who took black seed oil for 8-12 weeks significantly reduced LDL (bad) and total cholesterol levels. Also, a study looked at 70 adults who took 2.5ml of black seed oil twice a day and had significantly reduced blood sugar levels compared to a placebo.
May protect brain health
Early test-tube studies and animal research reveal that thymoquinone may help reduce neuroinflammation. It may potentially protect against brain disorders such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's; however, more research is needed to investigate its effects on brain health.
Try our new Blackseed Oil Supplement
Interested in the benefits that black seed oil has to offer? Try our Blackseed Oil supplement, formulated according to the latest scientific research and vegan-friendly. This supplement may help you level up your lifestyle and lower your risk of inflammation.
In addition to taking our blackseed oil supplement to lower inflammation and reduce your risk of chronic disease, you might want to increase the uptake of essential minerals and vitamins in your body.
To know more, read our Ultimate Guide to Vitamins.
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