Cardamom also knows as elaichi in India, It is a highly fragrant spice from India which has gone on to become a must have ingredient in Indian cuisine and most sweets. Part of an ancient Indian heritage, choti elaichi as cardamom is commonly known as, has in its list a plethora of health benefits it is capable of extending to the human body. Cardamom is widely known to help detoxify the body, aid in weight loss, fight depression, boost the immune system and alleviate hypertension among many other benefits.
Cardamom
Cardamom is a small seed pod, having a papery exterior with small black seeds on the inside. It is an expensive spice known the world over for its rich aromatic culinary properties. Cardamom is used as a flavoring ingredient in drink, food and sweets.
Cardamom has a minty flavor when consumed raw and is thus attributed as an efficient way to tackle with bad breath. Earlier used in Ayurveda as an herb, cardamom was known to widely cure tuberculosis, gastrointestinal disorders and as an antidote to poison.
Nutritional Value of Cardamom
Let check out some nutrition information of cardamom. It is highly rich in manganese in addition to iron, fiber, calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc, riboflavin, etc. Oils like pinene, sabinene, phellandrene, terpinene, linalool, myrcene, etc. also form a major composition in cardamom.
These oils though highly volatile are a major factor for various health benefits cardamom. These oils render antioxidant properties, help improve digestion, stimulate metabolism and discourage tumor growth.
Nutritional facts Per 100 Grams
311
Calories
7 g
Total Fat
18 mg
Sodium
1,119 mg
Potassium
68 g
Total Carbohydrate
11 g
Protein
Vitamins and Minerals
0.38
Calcium
35 %
Vitamin C
77 %
Iron
10 %
Vitamin B-6
Health Benefits of Cardamom
Let check out the benefits of eating cardamom daily for your health, you can use cardamom in different fro, It is available in powder, cardamom oil, water, and tea. Cardamom offers Ayurvedic properties which help in balancing doshas. You can easily find cardamom in your local market. Both Green and black cardamom are popular and used in hundreds of Indian dishes.
Cardamom benefits for males in various terms and drinking cardamom water at night can more beneficial if you are thing about losing some weight. Consuming cardamom is good for health, it offers benefits we discuss in the below section. You can also read is there any side effects of cardamom and how the cultivation of cardamom started.
Cardamom for gastrointestinal disorders
Cardamom has been in use in Ayurvedic, Unani and Chinese medicine to treat gastrointestinal problems like stomach cramps, acidity, etc. The oils cardamom is composed of herb the strengthen the mucus lining in the stomach and increases the rate of saliva generation. The strong stomach lining results in an increase in appetite and saliva generation help cool the stomach that prevents acidity.
Cardamom good for stomach, you can drink cardamom tea or use cardamom oil whenever you feel stomach upset.
Cardamom for body detoxification
The toxins that the body releases as a result of the metabolic activities taking place throughout the day are required to be flushed out from the body. If any of these toxins stay in the body for a considerable amount of time, they give rise to problems like uric acid accumulation, premature aging, kidney stones, cancer, etc. Cardamom detox water or tea acts as a detoxifying agent helping in flushing out the toxins from the body keeping any medical disorders at bay.
Cardamom as breath freshener
A popular ingredient in chewing gums, cardamom owing to the presence of essential oils in its composition, has been popularly used as a breath freshener. The seeds are chewed on for the distinctive aroma the pods are characterized with.
Cardamom improves blood circulation
Cardamom is believed to help improve blood circulation in the lungs. It has thus been commonly used in aromatherapy owing to its ability to help alleviate symptoms and cure bronchitis and asthma. Cardamom also relieves the human body of stress and depression by enhancing the flow of blood throughout the body.
Cardamom for urinary problems
Medical conditions of the urinary tract like gonorrhea, cystitis, nephritis etc have been cured by the use of cardamom in the diet. Cardamom’s unique essential oil composition helps in imparting a healthy blood flow and enhanced body detox which in turn enable the body to keep conditions arising out of abnormal functioning of the said systems at bay.
Cardamom benefits for weight loss
Cardamom owes to the characteristics endowed by the oil composition in its pod, boosts the body’s metabolism function apart from performing functions such as improving blood circulation and ridding the body of unnecessary toxins. All these factors combined result in a healthy fat burning rate causing the body to lose weight.
You can add cardamom in your weight loss diet in different form. You can use green or black cardamom powder , tea, and water to reduce weight.
Cardamom benefits for sleep
Inhaling the distinctive aroma of cardamom or applying a little amount of cardamom oil around the nasal area helps get sound sleep and reduces problems that result in little or no sleep and restlessness during the night. Cardamom has been highly efficient in treating conditions of insomnia and anxiety.
Cardamom Alleviates joint pain
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, cardamom is highly efficient in alleviating muscle and joint pain. Research has proved that cardamom plays a pivotal role in avoiding contraction and relaxation of muscles which results in spasms. The anti-carcinogenic properties help alleviate muscle and joint pain; especially in older adults.
Cardamom benefits for male - Enhances sex drive
Owing to its aphrodisiac properties, cardamom is believed to eliminate problems like premature ejacul*tion and impotency. The unique aromatic and substance composition of cardamom makes it an ideal, low-risk option to treat problems relating to sexual shortcomings.
Cardamom keeps dental problems at bay
Cardamom, since ancient time has been used to treat oral problems. Be it bad breath, tooth cavity, or a microbial infection, use of cardamom is a safe and highly effective method to achieve oral hygiene.
Cardamom effect on blood sugar
Cardamom has been highly efficient in controlling high blood sugar levels. This property that helps balance the body’s blood sugar level is owing to the high content of manganese present in cardamom.
Cardamom good for sore throat infection
Cardamom has been widely used to treat sore throat, nausea and irritation in the throat. Cardamom should be boiled in water and the water to be used for gargling to treat sore throat and throat infections.
Uses of Cardamom
Cardamom is widely used to treat problems affecting the mouth and throat. It helps rid of oral infections, ensures dental hygiene and cures sore throat. It also helps in regulating the blood sugar levels of the body, helps in detoxification, enhances blood flow and improves body's sexual potency. It is essentially effective in losing weight, treating joint pain, muscle spasms and treats problems of the gastrointestinal tract and the urinary tract.
Side-Effects & Allergies of Cardamom
Though extending an array of health benefits, cardamom is advisable to not be consumed without consulting with a trained physician by people allergic to certain food types, breastfeeding mothers and pregnant women. People suffering from gallstones are advised to not consume cardamom in its raw whole form; it is however safe to consume in the form of grinded spice in any cuisine.
Cultivation of Cardamom
Cardamom is an ancient, highly aromatic spice native to India and sees large cultivations in the continent of Asia. It is a papery pod green or black in colour containing small black seeds within. Countries like Guatemala, Tanzania, Sri Lanka and Malaysia have also emerged as major cultivators of cardamom. It usually grows in mountainous regions and forests and are spindle-shaped plants with its outgrowing as pods.
