Kalonji: tiny, matt black, teardrop-shaped seeds with a mildly bitter, onion-like taste.
Kalonji and your health
As a spice, kalonji adds flavour and a little crunch to everyday food.
Black seed oil and capsules:
- They are promoted for everything from diabetes to skin and joint problems.
- The evidence so far comes from small studies and isn't strong enough to support using them for any specific condition.
Supplements are a different matter from a sprinkle in your food:
- they may increase bleeding in people on blood thinners
- they can cause stomach upset or rashes
- they aren't advised in pregnancy
How to have kalonji
Enjoy kalonji the way Indian kitchens always have, and these everyday cooking amounts are simply part of food:
- sprinkled on parathas and naan
- crackled in a tadka for aloo or kaddu
- added to pickles
If you're thinking about black seed oil or capsules, talk to your doctor first, especially if you:
- take medicine for diabetes or a blood thinner
- have surgery coming up
Never use it in place of treatment your doctor has prescribed.
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Checked against: Cleveland Clinic: Black Seed Oil Benefits: Are They Real?. General information, not medical advice.
Related words
AntioxidantsType 2 diabetesOils and gheeSpices and condimentsMethi water
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