Uses and Benefits of Cardamom

Cardamom comes from the seeds of the plant that belong to the same family as ginger. It has a distinctive flavor that complements both sweet and savory dishes. People can use cardamom seeds and pods in curries, desserts, and meat dishes, as well as in beverages like coffee and chai tea. People can also take cardamom as a dietary supplement for its health benefits. Cardamom contains phytochemicals that have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. 

Cardamom is available for sales in the following forms:

●        Whole seed pods with the seeds inside

●        Pre-ground cardamom spice powder that manufacturers make from the seeds

●        An essential oil

●       A herbal dietary supplement, usually in the form of a capsule. 

From fighting cavities to detoxing your body, cardamom is a powerhouse of goodness and health.

The strong flavor and aroma of cardamom is an acquired one and can be repulsive for many foodies. But the benefits it offers can simply amaze a person beyond measure. 

Benefits of cardamom 

The queen of spices, cardamom is known for its rich aroma and flavor. Which is perhaps the first and foremost reason that it has been extensively used for culinary purposes. Its unique flavor fits into the preparation of both sweet and savory dishes alike. It has impressive medicinal properties and therefore has been used in traditional medicine for ages. 

Cardamom seeds contain essential oil, which is composed of phytochemicals like alpha-terpineol 45%, myrcene 27%, limonene 8%, and menthone 6%—all of which impart therapeutic properties and sweet aroma to this flavorful herb. According to Ayurveda, cardamom seeds influence all three doshas namely Vata, pitta, and Kapha. 

Ever wondered why your grandmother or mother always kept a few pods of cardamom in their purse or travel bag? Well, the answer is in the surprising health benefits of cardamom. 

It helps improve digestion

Menthone, the essential oil in cardamom helps relieve gastrointestinal problems like hyperacidity, gas, indigestion, and abdominal pain. It is a good digestive stimulant and digestive agent. You can use cardamom whenever you feel a burning sensation in your stomach. 

Cardamon can be used to treat vomiting and nausea

Cardamom has antiemetic properties, which can help with mild vomiting and nausea. It is more beneficial if the vomiting is induced by acidity and a burning sensation in the stomach. So if you tend to have motion sickness while traveling, now you know why you need to keep cardamom in your travel kit.

It’s also great dental care

Cardamom has powerful antimicrobial properties that, along with good dental hygiene, can help eliminate bad breath for good. The phytochemical cineole found in cardamom oil is a powerful antiseptic known to kill the bacteria that cause bad breath and prevent tooth decay. A recent study shows that cardamom fruit and seed extracts may be useful therapeutic agents against periodontal infections due to their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. 

Cardamom can also treat cough and cold

Cardamom has antitussive and expectorant properties that help reduce mucus production and eliminate coughs and colds from the body. Increases blood flow to the lungs and helps improve respiratory functions. 

Cardamom can also help with detoxification

Cardamom acts as a powerful detoxifier for the body. It reduces toxins in the blood and increases the excretion of these toxins by inducing a slight diuresis. There is evidence that essential oils and phytochemicals contained in cardamom have a detoxifying effect. 

Benefits of cardamom

Make cardamom your best buddy for several health benefits. 

It can even help with nicotine withdrawal

As a natural therapy, cardamom can also help people who want to quit nicotine. Chewing cardamom pods 4 to 6 times a day reduces nicotine cravings, restlessness, irritability, impatience, and anxiety. It also improves the quality of sleep and prevents depression. 

Cardamom can also improve symptoms of metabolic disorders

In addition to the necessary lifestyle corrections with diet, exercise, sleep, and stress, herbs like cardamom act as support agents in fighting disease. Cardamom has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that can help. A meta-analysis showed that the consumption of green cardamom significantly lowered triglyceride levels, which may have played an indirect role in improving clinical symptoms in diseases with metabolic disorders.

 Studies on the health benefits of cardamom in diabetics are very limited. However, a recent 2019 study showed that cardamom can lower HbA1c, insulin, HOMA-IR, and TG levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although there was a decrease in sugar after eating, no changes in fasting sugar were observed. 

Adding cardamom to your daily diet: 

Following are a few ways of using cardamom:

●       Just chew on a pod of cardamom along with fennel seeds post meals as a mouth-freshener.

●       Add a pinch of cardamom to your bedtime milk along with nutmeg or turmeric and black pepper for that blissful sleep.

●       Add cardamom powder to homemade granola cereal

●       A few open pods of cardamom added in boiling water will do the magic in any rice preparation like Pulao, Biriyani, and sweets like Halwa and Sheera.

●       Cardamom is a part of many pre-prepared curry masalas. One can use that or can add it as a whole spice while preparing veg or non-veg curries.  

There are various grades of cardamom available in the market and as end-users, we can mostly never differentiate between the variety that is high quality and the inferior ones. But a good retailer takes care to only stock the best variety of cardamom at his outlets. To simplify it for consumers, Crave and Cart picks the best quality grade 1 and 2 cardamoms from reputed planters and makes them available for everyone across the country. So, no more further waiting, pick up your phone, visit our website and place the order.