A lot of people in America haven’t heard about black seed oil, even though its benefits are presented in over 630 scientific peer-review articles. It’s one of the healthiest oils with virtually no side effects.
Black seed oil has anti-inflammatory, anti-hypersensitive, anti-bacterial, antifungal, anti-diarrhea, analgesic, appetite stimulant, liver tonic, digestive, and diuretic properties.
Its composition includes the powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer agent Thymoquinone. Moreover, it contains the potent health booster Thymohydroquinone and Thymol.
Here are several reasons why black seed oil is good for people, including those with diabetes.
Health Benefits of Black Seed Oil
1. Improves Blood Glucose Control
A study shows that black seed oil helps improve insulin resistance and blood glucose control in people with diabetes. It boosts the glucose-induced production of insulin and decreases the absorption of glucose in the intestines.
Research proved the oil is a helpful addition to the therapy of diabetics with an abnormal amount of lipids.
Moreover, a 2010 study suggests that taking 2gm of black seed a day can help improve the glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes. The participants didn’t stop taking their regular diabetes medications.
So, the results showed a reduction in their HbA1c, fasting, and postprandial (after meal) glucose levels.
The oil or extract from black seeds reduces oxidative stress, thus maintaining a proper function of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This was proven in a rat study.
Researchers gave induced diabetic rats 20-80mg/kg of thymoquinone (a compound found in large amounts in black seed oil) for 45 days.
The results showed their glycemic status improved and their HbA (1C) and glucose levels reduced.
Also, one study shows the effects of black seed oil on glucose tolerance are similar to those of metformin. What’s more, it didn’t show any significant side effect, unlike the popular drug.
2. Boosts Liver Health
Black seed oil accelerates the healing process of liver damaged by alcohol consumption, medications, or a disease. What’s more, a recent study suggests the oil improves the liver function and protects it against disease and damage.
3. Supports Weight Loss
Black seed oil is one of the best anti-diabetes plants, says a study. It provides great anti-inflammatory effects which help you lose weight by reducing the following weight gain triggers:
- Appetite
- Liver gluconeogenesis
- Intestinal glucose absorption
- Blood glucose levels
- Triglycerides
- Cholesterol
4. Anti-Cancer Activity
According to a Croatian research, thymohydroquinone and thymoquinone have antitumor activity in mice. The black seed oil phytochemicals reduced tumor cells by 52%.
Thanks to their high levels, black seed oil helps treat and prevent cancer through the following mechanisms:
- Apoptosis induction
- Anti-proliferation
- Reactive oxygen species generation
- Anti-angiogenesis
- Cell cycle arrest
- Anti-metastasis
5. Treats Infections (MRSA)
Black seed oil can help kill many infections, especially the widespread MRSA. This is important as the infection is quickly becoming resistant to generic antibiotics. So, a group of Pakistan researchers found that several strains of MRSA are sensitive to the oil.
In other words, they showed black seed oil could help stop or delay the progress of MRSA.
Dosages and How to Use It
It’s best to take the oil in its natural form, but if you can’t stand the taste, you can take it in the form of capsules. Begin with low doses and gradually increase.
Have in mind that the first time you take black seed oil, you might notice slight reactions in your stomach. However, soon enough it’ll become used to it, so you shouldn’t experience any side effects whatsoever.
Take half a teaspoon of black seed oil with meals every day for a week. Continue the second week with one teaspoon a day with meals, and then increase the dosage to 2 teaspoons a day.
It’s best to take it on an empty stomach or before meals. Also, its analgesic effects will help you sleep better if you take it before bedtime.
Those who have an infection, inflammation or some disease should take two teaspoons twice a day. But, if you take it as prevention, one teaspoon should be enough.
