Cardamom is a herb that has been used in cuisine and healing for ages. Cardamom, which was formerly only found in Middle Eastern and Arabic cuisines, has acquired appeal in the West. Cardamom is made from the seeds of numerous distinct plants that are related to ginger. It has a unique taste that goes well with both sweet and savory foods. Cardamom seeds and pods may be used in curries, sweets, and meat dishes, as well as in drinks like coffee and chai tea.
Indian cuisine is vibrant and tasty, and the spices not only provide a unique touch to dishes but also provide a variety of health advantages that have been well documented since ancient times. Cardamom is one such spice, among many others. The scent and flavor of this spice are very powerful. Cardamom was formerly regarded a botanical and was a vital element in Ayurvedic medicine. Even the ancient Egyptians and Romans utilized this spice to infuse their essential oils with, to use as mints, and for various medical applications. Cardamom was employed as an antidote for poisoning and venom, as well as a remedy for oral infections, throat issues, chest congestion, and gastrointestinal ailments. Cardamom is now one of the most premium spices on the planet. Cardamom is utilized in a variety of cuisines, from spicy foods to sweets and drinks, and is known for its scent and flavor. With the expanding variety of alternatives, an increasing number of individuals are considering adding cardamom to their diet for general health.
Cardamom may be used as a supplement for its health advantages. Cardamom is high in phytochemicals that are anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. Cardamom is not just distinctive to our area but also to our senses, as it is to our taste buds. This aromatic spice may enhance the flavor of your tea, cuisine, and entire dining experience. Cardamom is a multi-purpose spice that may be used in curries, breads, rice, and liquid dishes. It also has a number of health advantages.
The spice queen Cardamom, also called as elaichi, has a distinctive scent and flavor. As a consequence, it’s been widely employed in cooking. Its scent and flavor complement both sweet and savory foods. It possesses powerful therapeutic characteristics that have long been employed in traditional medicine. Cardamom seeds produce an essential oil that contains phytochemicals such alpha-terpineol (45%), myrcene (27%), limonene (8%), and menthone (6%), all of which provide this flavorful plant medicinal capabilities and a pleasant scent. Cardamom seeds, according to Ayurveda, have an effect on all three doshas.
Have you ever wondered why your grandma or mother carried a few cardamom pods in their handbag or travel bag? The solution lies in cardamom’s unexpected health advantages. In other studies, cardamom essential oil was shown to have “antimicrobial action against practically all test bacteria,” and another study indicated that this oil may be used in novel antimicrobial medications. Cardamom essential oil should not be consumed, and people should always see a doctor before trying any new herbal cure. Some items might have negative effects or interact with other medications.
What exactly is cardamom?
Cardamom is a spice that comes in the shape of a tiny pod containing black seeds. It is a member of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. This spice comes in two varieties or subspecies. Elettaria, or green or real cardamom, and Amomum, or black, white, or red cardamom, are their scientific names. Elettaria pods are tiny and light green in hue, but Amomum pods are larger and brown in color. Both are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. For long years, cardamom has been employed in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine.
What is the flavor of cardamom?
The taste of green cardamom is very sweet, minty, and savory. The seeds and pods have a strong scent and are frequently used in sweets, hot and spicy foods, and fragrant drinks like as coffee and tea. It is known as the queen of spices and, after saffron and vanilla, is the most costly spice.
Cardamom’s nutritional value
Cardamom is high in fiber and includes various vitamins and minerals. It also has a minimal carbohydrate and calorie content.
One tablespoon of ground cardamom includes the following nutrients, according to the Department of Agriculture Source:
18 calories
0.4 grams total fat (g)
4.0 g carbs; 1.6 g fiber; 0.6 g protein
It also includes the following vitamins and minerals in the following amounts:
64.9 milligrams potassium (mg)
22.2 mg calcium
iron: 0.81 mg
13.3 mg magnesium, 10.3 mg phosphorus
Health benefits of cardamom
It helps with digestion
Cardamom contains the essential oil menthone, which helps with gastrointestinal issues such acidity, flatulence, indigestion, and stomach pains. It’s an excellent carminative and digestive stimulant. The most common sign that you should use elaichi is a burning feeling in your stomach. As a result, cardamom may be utilized to treat any condition that has a burning feeling as a symptom.
Cardamon may be used to relieve nausea and vomiting
Cardamom contains antiemetic effects that may aid with nausea and vomiting. When the vomit has a sour flavor and a burning feeling, it is more useful. So now you know why you should carry cardamom in your travel pack if you suffer from motion sickness when traveling.
It also provides excellent dental treatment
Cardamom contains antibacterial characteristics that, when combined with regular oral care, may help you get rid of bad breath for good. Cineole, a phytochemical found in cardamom oil, is a powerful antiseptic that kills germs that cause foul breath while also preventing cavities and tooth damage. According to a recent research, cardamom fruit and seed extracts may be therapeutic agents of interest against periodontal diseases due to their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory characteristics.
Coughs and colds may also be treated with cardamom
Cardamom possesses antitussive and mucolytic qualities, which aid to reduce mucus production and clear the body of cough and cold. It improves respiratory functioning by increasing blood circulation in the lungs.
Elaichi may also aid in the detoxification process
Cardamom has a strong detoxifying effect on the body. It causes moderate diuresis, which decreases toxins in the blood and improves their excretion. Cardamom’s essential oils and phytochemicals have been shown to have detoxifying properties.
It may even assist with nicotine withdrawal symptoms
Cardamom may also assist persons who are trying to stop smoking as a natural cure. Chewing 4 to 6 times a day on cardamom pods decreases nicotine cravings, restlessness, irritation, impatience, and anxiety. It also helps with sleep and reduces sadness.
Cardamom may also help those with metabolic problems
Herbs like cardamom work as supportive agents in the fight against illnesses, in addition to the lifestyle changes necessary in nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress. Cardamom contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may assist. According to a meta-analysis, green cardamom consumption lowers triglyceride levels, which may have contributed to better clinical symptoms in illnesses with metabolic problems.
There have been few studies on the health advantages of cardamom in diabetes people. However, a research published in 2019 found that cardamom may lower HbA1c, insulin, HOMA-IR, and TG levels in type 2 diabetic patients. Even though post-meal sugars were lower, there was no change in fasting sugars.
Cardiovascular health
Cardamom has been linked to improved heart health in animals, but more study is needed before researchers can determine how the spice impacts human heart health.
Cardamom may help protect against heart attacks, according to the results of a rodent research. The scientists speculate that its antioxidant properties may aid in improving cardiac function, but they caution that human research are needed to corroborate these results.
Another source discovered that cardamom oil might assist rats lower their cholesterol levels. For eight weeks, the rats were given a high cholesterol diet. At the conclusion of the trial, the rats given cardamom had considerably reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Breathing and oxygen utilization may be improved
Cardamom contains compounds that may aid enhance breathing by increasing airflow to the lungs. Cardamom has a stimulating scent that improves your body’s capacity to utilise oxygen during exercise when used in aromatherapy.
In one trial, participants were advised to inhale cardamom essential oil for one minute before jogging for 15 minutes on a treadmill. When compared to the control group, this group showed a considerably greater oxygen uptake.
Cardamom may also help you breathe better and consume more oxygen by relaxing your airway. This might be especially beneficial in the treatment of asthma. If the extract has a comparable impact on patients with asthma, it might help them breathe better by preventing their inflamed airways from narrowing.
May Assist with Blood Sugar Control
Antioxidants generated from plants have been shown in studies to help prevent diabetes, and cardamom has been utilized for this in several countries. Researchers performed several experiments to determine the efficiency of this cure and discovered that cardamom may help lessen your risk of diabetes mellitus. The process, however, is different.
Cardamom has been shown in tests to help regulate glucose and insulin levels by inhibiting digestive enzymes. The lack of these enzymes’ activity causes a decline in carbohydrate and protein digestion.
Other advantages
Because cardamom is a multi-purpose spice, it is beneficial to individuals who have a slow metabolism, poor memory, need to cleanse their bodies, and suffer from unbearable period stomach pains.
Cardamom may be used in a variety of ways. Cardamom has a wide range of applications. It may be added to your everyday tea and coffee, or boiled and taken on an empty stomach. It can also be added to your masala box.
Cardamom is often used in Indian sweets like as gulab jamun, but it may also be used in savory dishes such as biryani, pulaos, and kebabs.