Cardamom spice and it's vast health benefits

Cardamom is an important ingredient in cooking dishes all around the world today. Belonging to the ginger family, this spice is used in desserts, tea, coffee and many more delicious dishes

There are two types of cardamom:

Green cardamom

Mostly grown in South India, this variety comprises of fat green pods and is the most superior quality of cardamom available. It is available in pod as well as in powder form. The whole pod has a good shelf life and can retain the aroma of the seeds.

It is used to flavor both savory and sweet dishes.
-This fragrant spice is added to rich curries and milk based preparations.
-Tea and coffee are also spiced with cardamom.
-It is even used in spiced cakes and breads.

Spiced Chai with cardamom

Spiced cake

Brown Cardamom

This variety is characterized by pods that are larger in size than the green cardamom and have a hairy texture. They resemble tiny fibrous coconuts.

-It is used only in savory dishes like biryani and curries.
-They are also an essential ingredient in garam masala (blend of spices).
-The dark brown seeds are known for their medicinal value, particularly due to the presence of carbohydrates, protein, moisture, volatile oil, crude fiber, phosphorus, calcium and iron.
The volatile oil comprises of cineol, terpinene, limonene, sabinene and terpineol in the form of formic and acetic acid.

Content research and images is courtesy of google

Ground Cardamom

This is obtained by crushing the cardamom using a mortar and pestle to form cardamom powder. It is used as a flavoring in several dishes. It has fewer flavors than the whole pods and is readily available at grocery stores.

Some of the health benefits of this spice are now making their way into modern studies. Below are some of the health benefits that I came across while researching the spice.

Digestion - Cardamom is related to ginger and can be used in much the same way to counteract digestive problems. Use it to combat nausea, acidity, bloating, gas, heartburn, loss of appetite, constipation, and much more.

Detoxify - This spice helps the body eliminate waste through the kidneys.

Halitosis - In India they chew cardamom after meals or whenever they need to freshen their breath.

Diuretic - Part of the reason cardamom is such a good detoxifier is thanks to the diuretic properties. It helps clean out the urinary tract, bladder, and kidneys, removing waste, salt, excess water, toxins, and combating infections too.

Depression - The science behind the antidepressant qualities of cardamom hasn’t been studied yet, but Ayurvedic medicine swears by the tea as a means to fight depression.

Oral Health - Apart from helping with bad breath, cardamom is used for mouth ulcers and infections of the mouth and throat.

Cold and Flu - This pungent spice may help prevent and relieve cold and flu symptoms. It’s also used for bronchitis and coughs.

Cancer - Animal studies are showing promise that cardamom protects against, inhibits growth, and even kills some cancers.

Blood Pressure - As a diuretic and fiber rich spice, cardamom significantly lowers blood pressure.

Blood Clots - Cardamom prevents dangerous blood clots by preventing platelet aggregation and the sticking to the artery walls.

Antioxidant - Many of the vitamins, phytonutrients, and essential oils in cardamom act as antioxidants, cleaning up free radicals and resisting cellular aging.

Pathogens - The volatile essential oils in cardamom inhibit the growth of viruses, bacteria, fungus, and mold.

Anti-inflammatory - Like ginger and turmeric, its relatives, cardamom has some anti-inflammatory properties that limit pain and swelling, especially in mucus membranes, the mouth, and throat.

Hiccups - Cardamom is an anti-spasmodic that can help get rid of hiccups. This also applies to other involuntary muscle spasms, like stomach and intestinal cramps.

Aphrodisiac - Traditional medicine lists cardamom as a powerful aphrodisiac that can help with erectile dysfunction and impotence.

I would appreciate feedback in the comment section and an upvote if you like this content. If you found it beneficial please resteem so that your audience can benefit as well. Thank you for your support :)