Black cumin seed oil can help reduce disease-causing inflammation

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Black cumin seed oil is a potent superfood. According to research, it can be used to prevent or reverse life-threatening diseases.

Many studies have shown that black cumin seed oil helps restore balance to an aging immune system and prevent the development of inflammatory diseases like cancer.

Inflammation may sound like a scary thing, but it is your body's normal and healthy defense against threats like infection, trauma and malignant cells.

For example, when you're hurt the injured area will become red and swell as beneficial white blood cells fight infection and help you heal. The same response happens in other parts of your body when you get sick because of a virus or infection.

However, this immune response sometimes occurs when it shouldn't. It can be triggered by exposure to toxins or other factors like autoimmune disorders, chronic stress or obesity.

When this happens, inflammation doesn't heal the problem. Instead, the inflammation persists over time. Experts believe that this chronic state of inflammation can cause a myriad of health issues, such as Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, depression, heart disease and even cancer.

What is black cumin?

Black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa) are also known as black caraway, nigella fennel flower and Roman coriander. Black cumin seed oil is extracted from N. sativa seeds and has been used in traditional medicine for over 2,000 years because it has incredible therapeutic benefits.

Research suggests it may have many applications for health, like in the treatment of asthma or for aiding weight loss. Black cumin seed oil is also applied topically to support healthy skin and hair.

In traditional medicine, black cumin seed oil is used to treat many health conditions. Because of this, the oil is sometimes called a "panacea," meaning universal healer.

Black cumin seed oil is rich in antioxidants that help protect against cell damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals.

Research has shown that antioxidants can help reduce inflammation and protect against conditions like Alzheimer's disease, cancer and heart disease.

Black cumin seed oil helps fight chronic inflammation

Black cumin seed oil contains potent phytochemicals that can inhibit the production and activity of inflammatory factors like cytokines, interleukins and prostaglandins. The oil also helps boost the infection- and cancer-fighting properties of immune cells.

According to studies, black cumin seed oil's active component, thymoquinone, has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Thymoquinone can protect the brain and is effective against different types of cancer.

Black cumin seed oil also contains thymol, a natural antiseptic and antimicrobial agent.

In a study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research, researchers observed 40 women with rheumatoid arthritis who were given either a placebo containing starch or 500 mg of black cumin seed oil twice a day for a month. They reported that 42.5 percent of the participants who took the oil experienced reduced symptoms such as decreased swelling of joints and lessened morning stiffness.

Thymoquinone can also help with osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis in the United States. According to a study published in the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine, thymoquinone can reduce levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), an enzyme that destroys bone and joint tissue.

In another study published in the Egyptian Journal of Immunology, researchers reported that black cumin seed oil worked just as well as the steroid dexamethasone in reducing the number of cytokines and inflammatory cells in lung tissue.

Black cumin seed oil helps fight cancer

According to researchers, black cumin seed oil helps boost the activity of macrophages -- immune cells that surround, engulf and destroy abnormal cells.

Black cumin seed oil can also boost the survival of CD-8 T-cells, which hunt down and kill infected or cancerous cells. At the same time, the oil helps stimulate "helper" T-cells that marshal natural killer cells and direct them to their targets.

Data from one study revealed that volunteers who were given black cumin seed oil experienced an impressive 55 percent increase in helper T-cell activity and a 30 percent increase in natural killer cell function.

Black cumin seed oil helps prevent heart disease

Black cumin seed oil also holds promise when it comes to boosting heart health.

Research suggests that the oil can help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. Findings from animal studies show that black cumin seed oil lowers unhealthy low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol while raising beneficial high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels.

Additionally, black cumin seed oil helps reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury, a condition that causes debilitating tissue and organ damage that can occur after someone suffers a heart attack or stroke.

Black cumin seed oil helps relieve allergies and asthma

Allergies and asthma are both linked to overreactions in the immune system. Research suggests that black cumin seed oil helps alleviate both conditions.

Patients with allergic rhinitis reported a significant decrease in symptoms such as itching, nasal congestion, runny nose and sneezing after using black cumin seed oil. Meanwhile, patients with asthma reported relaxation of the trachea and airways.

Incorporating black cumin seed oil into a balanced diet

Black cumin seed oil is considered generally safe for use, but note that it can interact with some medications, like beta blockers and blood thinners. If you are unsure, check with a natural health practitioner to make sure it’s safe to use with any prescriptions you are taking.

Note that the oil has a strong flavor profile, so if you don’t like its bitterness, you can incorporate it into recipes with other highly flavorful ingredients. Here are some ways to incorporate it into your regular diet: