7 Top Health Benefits & Uses Of Sabja Seeds (Basil Seeds | Tukmaria) For Hair, Skin & Weight Loss

What Are Sabja Seeds?

Many think sabja seeds are the seeds of holy basil plant | tulsi plant and that is why it is also called as tulsi seeds in many places but they are not.

Sabja Seed Plant:

Sweet basil is an annual plant and it produces black seeds that are in the shape of tear drops. The plant is widely grown in Thailand and India.

Here in our place, you can find the plant very commonly. The leaves of the plant have amazing smell that I completely love.

Sabja seeds are native to India and originated from Asia and Africa. Later it spread to Europe and America.

Sabja Seeds Common Names:

Sabja seeds are called Tukamaria in Hindi, Thiruneetru Patchai Vithai or Sabja Vithai in Tamil, Sabja Ginjalu in Telugu, Baburi in Punjabi, Basil Seeds in English, Kamakasturi in Kannada, Tukmalanga in Pakistani, Hazbo in Kasmiri, Basilien Kraut in German, Basilic Cultiv in French, Tulasa Biyane in Marathi and Tulasi Bija in Bengali.

Sabja Seeds Chemical Constituents:

Sabja seeds contain active components like planteose, mucilage, polysaccharides and oils (linoleic acid which accounts for almost 50 %, linolenic acid, oleic acid and unsaturated fatty acids) in varying amounts.

The phyto chemicals present in sabja seeds are saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids and alkaloids. They are responsible for it’s anti inflammatory, anti hypoglycemic, anti microbial, analgesic, antioxidant, anti cancer, anti stress and cholesterol lowering properties.

Sabja Seeds Traditional Uses:

• Though many Asian countries like India, Thailand, Vietnam use sabja seeds extensively they are not as famous as chia seeds. But they are slowly gaining in popularity now due to it’s wonderful nutrient value.
• Sabja seeds have been used in Ayurvedic medicine from ancient times but in India it is most commonly used to make summer drinks like falooda as it is considered a body cooling food.
• Sabja seeds swells to twice it’s size when soaked in water and I usually soak the seeds in hot water for about 10 minutes and then strain the water. The swelling is due to the presence of polysaccharide layer. Sabja seeds also has a bland taste which is another plus as you can add it to many dishes.

Sabja Seeds | Basil Seeds Nutrition:

Sabja Seeds Recipes:

Sabja seeds blends well with any drink as it is very bland. It can be added to sherbets, as a topping for ice creams, milk shakes, all flavored faloodas and even lemonade. My favorite all time recipe with sabja seeds is jigirthanda.

If there is one drink I am crazy about, it is jigirthanda. It is a sweet drink made with condensed milk, rose petal jam, ice and loads of sabja seeds. There is a street vendor near my sister’s place who makes heavenly jigirthanda.

Though I have tasted it in so many places, he is one of  the best. I think it has to do with the best homemade ingredients that he uses. Nowadays my sister teases me that I visit her only for eating jigirthanda.

My Favorite Basil Seeds Drink Recipe & Benefits:

Basil Seed Recipe:

Pour hot boiling water over sabja seeds and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes till it swells up. Now strain the water from the sabja seeds. Add the soaked basil seeds to chilled milk along with little rose syrup and rose petal jam to make an easy and healthy drink.

Basil Seed Drink Benefits:

This drink is very filling, very tasty and has wonderful health benefits. Give this milk to children often to increase their immunity. This drink is full of antioxidants, has a soothing effect on the stomach and is very filling.

Where To Buy Sabja Seeds?

Sabja seeds are found in every departmental store in India as it one of the most important ingredients for making falooda. But you can also buy it online too but it might be more expensive when you buy sabja seeds online.

Usually 100 grams of sabja seeds costs around 45 rupees whereas 100 grams of chia seeds cost around 180 rupees! Both have almost similar nutrient content with some differences in their protein and fat content (chia seeds have more fat content).

You can read the differences between chia seeds and sabja seeds in detail here. If you live in India I would suggest using sabja seeds instead of chia seeds as it is way cheaper.

How To Use Sabja Seeds?

To use, take the sabja seeds in a cup and pour boiling hot water till the seeds are completely immersed. Let it soak for 15 minutes. After 15 to 20 minutes, the sabja seeds would have soaked up the water and would have swollen up to twice it’s size.

Strain the left over water and now the sabja seeds can be added to any dessert or drink. Always soak the sabja seeds and let it gel before using.

How To Store Sabja Seeds?

Sabja Seeds Dosage:

Sabja Seeds Side Effects:

I have been consuming basil seeds regularly and I haven’t experienced any side effects but like with any food don’t over consume sabja seeds. Also be careful about giving sabja seeds to young children as they might choke on them.

Sabja seeds are said to lower the estrogen levels but I couldn’t find any research supporting this claim. Pregnant women can consume sabja seeds in moderation as it has a cooling and soothing effect.

How To Collect Sabja Seeds From The Plant?

7 Top Health Benefits & Medicinal Uses of Sabja Seeds | Basil Seeds:

1. Sabja Seeds For Weight loss:

Though there is no scientific research to prove that sabja seeds aids in weight loss, whenever I consume sabja seeds it keeps me full. I don’t feel hunger at all for long  periods of time as the sabja seeds are full of fiber.

If you are looking for foods to include in your weight loss plan, sabja seeds will be a great addition. To use sabja seeds for weight loss, soak sabja seeds in water, drain and take it in a glass, add in lemon juice, honey and chilled water and your wonderful weight loss sabja drink is ready…..

2. Sabja Seeds For Reducing Body Heat:

Usually sabja seeds are consumed during summer time in India as it is one of the best body coolants. This is also one of the reasons that street vendors who sell sabja seeds based drinks close their shops during winter time and reopen it only during the next summer.

Usually I will be waiting for summer to consume my favorite drink. To make sabja seed drink for reducing body heat, add a tbsp of soaked sabja seeds to a cup of milk along with little rose petal jam. Even rose petal jam is a wonderful body coolant…

3. Sabja Seeds For Diabetes:

Sabja seeds are very effective for people with type 2 diabetes as sabja seeds help regulate blood sugar. This is due to tit’s high fiber content.

If you are diabetic and want to consume sabja seeds, after soaking it in water, mix it with plain cold milk and add a few drops of pure vanilla.

You have a wonderful healthy drink minus the sugar. You can also add it to other non dairy milk like almond milk or soy milk too. Having a cup of this drink will keep blood sugar levels stable for long periods of time…

4.  Sabja Seeds For Constipation:

If you suffering from constipation, adding sabja seeds to your diet will greatly help. If you are suffering from constipation, try consuming 2 tbsp of the soaked sabja seeds daily.

You have plenty of options to take it, you can add it to fruit salad and consume daily. I would suggest consuming it along with fruits like papaya or banana, it will greatly help treat constipation very very quickly.

5. Sabja Seeds For Acidity:

Sabja seeds has soothing effect on the stomach. If you suffer from stomach burn or acidity, a cup of sabja milk will do wonders. To make sabja milk, take either regular milk or if you are vegan take your choice of plant based milk in a cup.

Add soaked sabja seeds, sweeten with honey and drink daily. Substitute this drink for your cola and coffee for a few days and you will notice a very good difference.

You can also try including rose petal jam to this drink as even rose petal jam helps in treating stomach burn and acidity..

6. Sabja Seeds For Skin:

Sabja seeds have wonderful anti microbial properties and is wonderful to use for skin care. Sabja seeds have been proven to be effective against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria and it also reduces the inflammation and relieves pain.

When mixed together with coconut oil, it is very effective for treating skin related problems. To make the oil, first crush the seeds without soaking it in water.

Heat coconut oil in a pan and add the seeds and remove from flame. Strain and use for eczema, psoriasis and other skin related problems.

7. For Healthy Skin & Hair:

Sabja seeds are very high in vitamins and minerals that keeps our skin and hair in peak health. It is also very high in protein and iron. A small cup of this sabja seeds will almost satisfy your daily requirement of iron and protein.

Also sabja seeds are rich in antioxidants and antioxidant rich foods prevents premature ageing of our skin and hair. If you are suffering from hair loss, try including sabja seeds in your diet regularly, it will greatly help….