Cumin Health Benefits Cumin is perhaps the most endowed of all spices in terms of health benefits. It is a good source of iron, required in the body to make hemoglobin in the blood, for the proper functioning of enzymes and for manufacturing proteins. ================================================================================================================================================================== That cumin seeds promote a healthy digestive system has been known since ancient times; recent research also suggests cumin contains substances that protect against cancer. ================================================================================================================================================================== Cumin is now grown in Iran, India, Pakistan, China and the Americas. In terms of flavor, it is sharp and pungent, almost bitter, sometimes described as peppery or nutty. It flavors the highly spicy dishes of India, Mexico and Middle Eastern countries. ================================================================================================================================================================== It was also an important spice in Europe during the Middle Ages, and still finds a place in many European foods such as Portuguese sausages, Dutch Leyden cheese and German Sauerkraut, to name a few.