Caraway, a digestive seed

Caraway seeds are similar to those of cumin both in appearance and in its slightly spicy flavor, although its aroma is more similar to that of anise.

Its use is not popularized in our gastronomy, but more and more users are using its seeds to make bread or its fruits to make infusions. This is due to its multiple benefits for our health.

Benefits and properties

Caraway seeds have multiple benefits for our health, so if you did not know them yet, take note of all their health properties!

• They contain a 10% essential oils (carvone and limonene) and a 16% fatty acids.
• They contain vitamins and minerals, and above all they stand out for their high content of (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and pyridoxine).
• They contain minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc.
• Caraway fruits stand out for their content in flavonoids and caffeic acid, a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Next, we will cite some of the best known properties of this plant and its main actions in our body:

Antiseptic and antifungal

It's used in skin infections produced by fungi of the genus Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton, among others. It can also be used as cleansing toner in the treatment of dermatological conditions such as eczema, acne, boils and pimples and to heal superficial wounds, minor burns, ear infections (otitis) and insect bites.

Carminative

Avoid flatulence and colic, since favors the reduction of gas generation in the digestive tract.

Digestive and tonic

It can be used both for promote appetite in convalescent people as for, since its content in carvone acts on the intestinal muscles, regulating intestinal transit and improving indigestion.

Relaxing

Their essential oils They exert relaxing and regenerating effects on the skin, which is why they are used to baths and massages mixed together with other vegetable oils.

painkiller

Your action anti-inflammatory it can relieve headaches, menstrual cramps, or stomach cramps.

Uses of caraway in the kitchen

Caraway seeds can be used directly to make certain recipes or in the form of infusion as medicinal use.

Caraway infusion

For make a digestive infusion we will introduce half teaspoon of seeds in a cup of boiling water, keeping the boil for 3 minutes and letting the infusion rest for another 10 minutes.

This infusion can be taken just after meals and the seeds of alacaravea can be combined with other plants of carminative action such as fennel, licorice or green anise. Another way to use caraway as a digestive action is by mixing half a coffee tablespoon of ground seeds with a yogurt as a dessert after lunch or dinner.

Cooking recipes with caraway

On the other hand, caraway is used in many recipes, among which we highlight:

• Caraway seed breads.
• Kümmel (homemade liquor of Dutch origin flavored with cumin, fennel and caraway seeds) and other alcoholic anises.
• As a flavoring for cheeses such as havarti or milbekäse.
• As an additive in legume, cabbage and potato stews.
• As an ingredient in the mixture of spices that make up ras-el-hanout (typical Maghreb condiment) and for multiple recipes of this gastronomy such as tajines and couscous
• To make sauerkraut, sauerkraut or fermented cabbage.
• To dress any stew that contains fats or legumes since its digestive and carminative effect will improve the digestion of these dishes.

• One of the main properties of caraway is antiseptic and antifungal, which is why it is used as a cleansing tonic in dermatological conditions such as acne, eczema, to heal superficial wounds ...
• It also highlights its carminative and digestive action, to avoid the formation of gases and facilitate the digestive process.
• The seeds can be used directly in breads, stews ... and we can also prepare a medicinal infusion with a digestive effect, combined with other plants with similar effects such as fennel and anise.

INFORMATIVE NOTE: «The contents included in this section offer information related to existing therapies explained by specialists with experience in the field with an informative objective. MAPFRE does not intend under any circumstances to position itself on its suitability or expressly promote its use. "

Judith Torrell

Diploma in Human Nutrition

Clinical Nutrition Specialist