From food to medicinal healing to good luck charms, cumin has had an important role in culture and medicine for centuries.

Cumin is the dried seed of the herb Cuminum cyminum. The yellow-brown seeds are small and oblong-shaped.

Thousands of years ago, cumin was also used for medicinal reasons. One fourth-century BC herbal text lists cumin as a treatment for obesity, urinary, and liver problems. While these health claims have not been substantiated, the ancient Romans and Egyptians understood the spice’s powerful health benefits.

In the past, soldiers put cumin in their wine and bread in hopes that it would help them become parents.

Today, the spice is commonly used in foods around the world. Across the ocean in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, it’s used for curries. Meanwhile, the Dutch even use it in cheeses. Cumin seeds can be used a variety of ways in cooking, including as a whole herb, spice, or ground into a powder and mixed with other spices.

Many people are now incorporating this valuable ingredient back into their diets. Modern studies show that cumin can support healthy digestion and a healthy immune system.

Considering incorporating cumin into your diet? Try adding it to foods and drinks or consider incorporating a cumin supplement in your diet.