Cardamom is one of the common Indian spices that come with a slightly sweet flavor. It is a bit intense and people often mistake it with mint. Originally, discovered in India but today used by people across the globe for both sweet and savory dishes.
The impressive medicinal properties present in its seeds, oils and extracts make it a great element in traditional medicine. For centuries, people across the globe have been using this spice to get relief from several health problems.
The seeds of many plants in the ginger family are used to make the spice cardamom. The triangular cross-section of cardamom pods gives them their spindle-like form. There are several seeds in the pods, however the whole cardamom pod can be utilized whole or powdered. The pods vary in size and color depending on the species, while the seeds are tiny and black.
Various Cardamom Species
The two primary varieties of cardamom are black and green, with white cardamom being a bleached variation of green cardamom. The type of cardamom most frequently used in Nordic and Middle Eastern cuisine is green, although Indian and Asian recipes frequently specify whether to use green or black cardamom.
True cardamom is green cardamom that excels in savory foods as well, it is the best option for sweet recipes. However, white cardamom, which has been bleached, has a milder flavor. It is cultivated in tropical regions including Costa Rica, Malaysia, and India.
Dark brown, bigger pods are characteristic of black cardamom. Although it is used in sweet recipes in southern India, its smoky component makes it more suitable for savory foods. The eastern Himalayas are where it is grown.
In addition to Middle Eastern food, cardamom is used in Indian cooking. Basmati rice and a variety of curries are made in Indian cuisine using entire cardamom pods. Some desserts are spiced with ground cardamom in Middle Eastern recipes.
Top Health Benefits of Cardamom
1. Helps Lower Blood Pressure
If you are a person with high blood pressure, Cardamom can be really helpful.
Earlier, a survey was conducted by experts in which 20 adults were given three grams of cardamom powder every day. These people were diagnosed with high blood pressure and suprisingly after 12 weeks of this practice, the blood pressure reached normal.
The high quantities of antioxidants in cardamom may be responsible for the positive results of this study. By the time the trial was over, the subjects’ antioxidant status had actually grown by 90%. Blood pressure has been linked to antioxidant intake.
Due to its antioxidant and diuretic properties, which can encourage urination to eliminate water that builds up in your body, including around your heart, the spice may help lower blood pressure, according to researchers.
2. Helps Resolve Digestive Problems
Since ancient times, cardamom has been utilized to aid in digestion. It is frequently combined with other therapeutic spices to treat discomfort, nausea, and vomiting. Cardamom’s potential capacity to treat ulcers has received the most attention among its potential benefits for treating gastrointestinal problems.
Additionally, test-tube studies indicate that cardamom may offer protection against Helicobacter pylori, a pathogen associated with the development of the majority of stomach ulcer problems. If the spice might similarly combat ulcers in humans, further study is required to determine this.
3. Might Comprise Cancer-Fighting Compounds
Another surprising benefit of cardamom is it contains compounds that may help fight cancer cells. Cardamom powder has been proven in studies on mice to improve the activity of specific cancer-fighting enzymes. The spice may improve tumor-attacking capacity of natural killer cells.
Similar findings have been found in studies using cardamom and human cancer cells. According to one study, a certain spice ingredient prevented the growth of oral cancer cells in test tubes. These surveys have only been performed on mice or in test tubes, despite the positive outcomes. Before stronger assertions can be made, more human study is required.
4. Possible Treatment for Bad Breath and Cavity Prevention
Cardamom has been used for centuries as a treatment for foul breath and to enhance dental health. After a meal, it’s customary in some cultures to consume whole cardamom pods to freshen your breath. Cardamom’s capacity to combat common oral bacteria may be the cause of its ability to produce minty fresh breath.
According to one study, cardamom extracts were efficient in battling five types of bacteria that might result in tooth decay. In other test-tube situations, the extracts stopped the bacteria’s growth by as much as 0.82 inches (2.08 cm). According to additional studies, cardamom extract can drastically lower the amount of bacteria in saliva samples, by 54%.
The results of these research may not be applicable to people because they were all carried out in test tubes.
5. Might protect from chronic diseases
Another best part about Cardamom is that it can fight inflammation thanks to the rich compounds present in it. When your body comes into contact with foreign objects, inflammation results. Acute inflammation is required and advantageous, but persistent inflammation can result in chronic illnesses.
Cardamom has a lot of antioxidants that shield cells from damage and prevent inflammation. Research indicates that supplements may improve the antioxidant level by up to 90%, despite the fact that there are fewer studies on the anti-inflammatory properties of cardamom in humans.
6. Helps Treat Infections
Outside of the mouth, cardamom has antibacterial properties and may be used to treat infections. According to research, cardamom extracts and essential oils include components that are effective against a number of common bacterial strains.
Additional test-tube studies revealed that against the bacteria Staphylococcus and E. coli, which can cause food poisoning, essential oils and extracts of cardamom were equally as effective as and often even more so than conventional medications.
Additionally, research in test tubes demonstrates that cardamom essential oils against the germs Campylobacter and Salmonella, which cause stomach inflammation and food poisoning, respectively.
7. Helps Improve Breathing and Oxygen Use
Cardamom’s chemical composition may assist breathing by boosting pulmonary airflow. When used in aromatherapy, cardamom can produce an energizing smell that improves your body’s capacity to use oxygen while exercising.
In one trial, participants were instructed to inhale cardamom essential oil for one minute before engaging in 15-minute intervals of treadmill jogging. When compared to the control group, this group’s oxygen uptake was noticeably higher.
Cardamom may also help you breathe easier and utilise oxygen by relaxing your airways. Asthma treatment may benefit greatly from this.
8. Helps Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Cardamom may reduce blood sugar levels when consumed as a powder. According to one study, rats fed a high-fat, high-carb (HFHC) diet had blood sugar levels that stayed up longer than they would have via a normal diet.
When rats on the HFHC diet received cardamom powder, their blood sugar levels did not remain raised for any longer than rats on a regular diet. In people with type 2 diabetes, the powder might not have the same impact.
In a trial on more than 200 adults with this condition, participants were separated into groups that either drank black tea every day for eight weeks without any additional ingredients or black tea with three grams of either cinnamon, cardamom, or ginger. Cinnamon helped blood sugar regulation, but not cardamom or ginger, according to the findings.
More research is required to fully comprehend how cardamom affects human blood sugar levels.
9. Safe and Widely Accessible
Most people can safely consume cardamom.
Cardamom is most frequently used in baking or cookery. It is quite adaptable and frequently used in Indian curries and stews, as well as in bread, gingerbread cookies, and other baked items. Given the encouraging outcomes of studies on cardamom’s therapeutic applications, it is expected that cardamom supplements, extracts, and essential oils will become more widely used.
However, because the majority of studies have been on animals, there is presently no dosage advice for the spice. A health expert should keep an eye on your supplement consumption.
Supplements containing cardamom may not be safe for children, pregnant women, or nursing mothers. The majority of supplements advise taking 500 mg of cardamom extract or powder once or twice each day.
If your doctor advises you to try cardamom supplements because the FDA does not regulate them, be sure to pick ones that have undergone independent testing. If you want to try cardamom, keep in mind that cooking with it can be the safest option.
10. Other Benefits
According to research done on rats, the high antioxidant content of the spice may help with:
- Liver Protection
Increased liver enzyme, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels may be reduced by cardamom extract. They may help stop liver weight gain and liver enlargement, lowering the risk of fatty liver disease.
- Weight Loss
According to a study done on 80 obese and overweight prediabetic women, cardamom consumption is associated with a slightly smaller waist circumference. Rat trials on the spice’s effect on weight loss, though, came up empty.
- Anxiety
Cardamom extract may inhibit nervous behaviors, according to a study on rats. This could be as a result of the association between anxiety and other mood disorders and low blood levels of antioxidants.
Conclusion
Cardamom is a traditional spice with several medicinal properties. It might ease weight reduction, improve breathing, and lower blood pressure.
Furthermore, although the data is not as strong, research on animals and in test tubes suggest that cardamom may help prevent liver damage, reduce anxiety, and combat infections.
A number of the spice’s health claims, however, have little to no human evidence to support them. If and how the findings of the preliminary investigation apply to humans will require further research. But cooking with cardamom could be a secure and efficient way to enhance your health.
Cardamom extracts and supplements may potentially have advantages, but they should be used with caution and under a doctor’s guidance.