What Are The Health Benefits Of Cardamom?
Cardamom helps improve digestive health and prevents certain serious ailments like cancer. It also aids in diabetes treatment and helps you cope with depression. You can include cardamom in your diet as you usually do or even take cardamom milk (also called elaichi milk) to avail the wondrous benefits.
Improves Digestive Health
According to an Indian study, cardamom can be used in cuisines not just for flavor, but also for enhancing digestion . The spice also stimulates metabolism, given its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Cardamom is also known to stimulate the secretion of bile acid in the stomach, further aiding in digestion . The spice also prevents other gastrointestinal ailments like acid reflux, heartburn, diarrhea, etc
Promotes Heart Health
Its antioxidant properties can promote heart health. Cardamom also contains fiber, the nutrient 0 that can help lower cholesterol levels and enhance heart health.
The spice also can lower blood pressure levels – and this benefits the heart. Simply have a concoction of a teaspoon of coriander and a pinch of cardamom along with a cup of freshly squeezed peach juice.
Black cardamom seems to work much better than its green cousin when it comes to heart health. One study conducted on patients with ischemic heart disease had their plasma lipid profiles and antioxidant status and fibrinolytic activity (a process that prevents blood clots from growing and causing problems) getting better post the ingestion of black cardamom
As per a report by the Harvard Medical School, cardamom is one of the ingredients heart experts usually include in their dinners
Aids In Cancer Prevention
Cardamom has exhibited its potential as a natural cancer treatment. Several animal studies have shown that the spice can be used to prevent, delay, and even reverse cancer formation.As per one Saudi Arabian study, administration of cardamom powder had reduced the occurrence of tumors .Carda
mom also decreases general inflammation, which inhibits the growth of cancer cells and encourages their death. Another Saudi Arabian study states that cardamom has the potential to treat forestomach cancer.
The spice had also shown desirable effects on chemically induced colorectal cancer in mice
Has Diuretic Propertie
Cardamom has diuretic properties that can benefit cases of hypertension and epilepsy . These diuretic properties of cardamom also aid in detoxification.
Helps Fight Depression
According to a health report, cardamom can indeed help people cope with depression. Just powder a few seeds of cardamom and boil them in water along with your everyday tea. Take the tea regularly for better results
Fights Asthma
Cardamom plays a role in fighting asthma symptoms like wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest. The spice makes breathing easier by enhancing blood circulation within the lungs. It also fights related inflammation by soothing the mucus membranes.
Another report says that green cardamom can be used to treat asthma, bronchitis, and numerous other respiratory issues .
Aids In Diabetes Treatment
Cardamom is extremely rich in manganese – a mineral that can lower the risk of diabetes. However, a lot more research is required in this aspect.
Improves Oral Health
Cardamom possesses antimicrobial properties that enhance oral health. According to the European Journal of General Dentistry, cardamom can protect against oral pathogens like Streptococci mutans . The pungent taste of cardamom even stimulates the salivary flow – and this can help prevent dental caries.
Cardamom can also work well in treating bad breath. Especially when you take a mixture of spices, including the seeds of anise, cardamom, and fennel – bad breath wouldn’t be a problem anymore .
Enhances Appetite
One Polish study emphasizes on the use of cardamom for treating a lack of appetite Even cardamom oil can be used as an appetite stimulant
Cardamom can also aid in the treatment of histoplasmosis – a condition in which one of the symptoms is a lack of appetite
10. Lowers Blood Pressure Levels
According to an Indian study, cardamom effectively lowers blood pressure. You can simply include cardamom in your soups and stews or even baked items to keep your blood pressure levels in check.
Improves Sexual Health
Cardamom is a proven aphrodisiac. The spice is rich in a compound called cineole, and just a small pinch of cardamom powder can release nerve stimulants and fuel your passions.
Some reports say that cardamom can also treat impotence. Further research is warranted.
Can Treat Hiccups
Cardamom has muscle-relaxing properties, and these can help relieve hiccups. All you need to do is add a teaspoon of cardamom powder to hot water. Let it steep for about 15 minutes. Strain and consume slowly.
Helps Treat Sore Throat
A mixture of cardamom, cinnamon, and black pepper can work wonders for treating a sore throat. While cardamom soothes the sore throat and reduces irritation, cinnamon offers antibacterial protection. And black pepper improves the bioavailability of the two ingredients. You can take 1 gram each of cardamom and cinnamon powders, 125 mg of black pepper, along with 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix all ingredients and lick the mixture thrice a day.
Cardamom also has been found to reduce nausea and prevent vomiting. In one study, test subjects who were given cardamom powder showed less frequency and duration of nausea and less frequency of vomiting.
Prevents Blood Clots
According to the Central Food Technological Research Institute in India, cardamom contains several components that relieve blood clots. But yes, adequate research is lacking in this aspect.
What Are The Benefits For The Skin?
The skin benefits of cardamom can be attributed to its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The spice helps treat skin allergies and improves skin complexion. It can also be used as a tool to cleanse the skin.
Improves Complexion
One of the benefits of cardamom is that it can give you fair skin. Cardamom essential oil helps in removing blemishes, thus giving you a fairer complexion.
You can either buy skin care products containing cardamom or its essential oil. Or you can simply mix cardamom powder with honey and apply it as a face mask.
Improves Blood Circulation
Cardamom contains vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant. It improves blood circulation throughout the body. Also, the many layers of phytonutrients in the spice can improve blood circulation – which invariably enhances skin health.
