It is also crucial for normal brain and nerve function and plays a role in carbohydrate metabolism, fat metabolism, calcium absorption, and blood sugar regulation.
Just one tablespoon of cardamom supplies 80 percent of your body’s daily manganese requirement.
As you can see, it is one of the most promising natural species that has been considered one of the best to treat various pathologies.
Cardamom is a very effective remedy against a common problem known as halitosis or bad breath, simply chewing the seeds can help eliminate bad odors that come from your mouth.
Some gum even includes it as an ingredient for this very reason.
Thanks to the execution of a scientific investigation in India to explore the antimicrobial effects of extracts of cardamom in oral bacteria, concluded that the extracts are effective against oral pathogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus mutants and Candida albicans.
In addition, cineole, which is one of the main active components of this species, is a powerful antiseptic known to kill the bacteria that cause bad breath and other infections.
So if you are looking for a way to get rid of bad breath, look no further.
2.- Benefits of cardamom for cavities
The health benefits of cardamom can not only kill the bacteria that cause bad breath, but it could also help prevent tooth decay or even reserve cavities and tooth decay.
It has all the cleaning benefits of gum but without any of the negatives (like stickiness).
Not only can it kill bacteria in your mouth, but with its somewhat sharp but pleasant taste, chewing cardamom can also encourage a clean saliva flow while the fibrous outer layer of the pod can provide mechanical cleaning of your teeth.
3.- Benefits of cardamom for cancer
Cardamom even shows promise when it comes to cancer, exhibiting potential as a natural cancer treatment.
Animal studies have shown that it can be used as a chemopreventive agent or something that is used to inhibit, delay, or reverse the formation of cancer.
A study published in 2012 showed that cardamom had a positive effect on skin health in animals.
The researchers found that there was a significant reduction in the occurrence and number of tumors with the oral administration of cardamom powder, the study concludes that cardamom has potential as a chemopreventive agent against skin cancer in two stages.
In general, the phytochemicals found in cardamom, including cineole and limonene, have shown the ability to assume a protective role against cancer progression.
4.- Benefits of cardamom for blood pressure
The health benefits of cardamom may help you lower your blood pressure, which is the key to maintaining the health of your heart and kidneys.
A study conducted by the Center for Indigenous Drug Research in the Department of Medicine at RNT Medical College in India and published in the Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics evaluated 20, newly diagnosed individuals with primary stage 1 hypertension and the effect of giving them three grams of powdered cardamom a day in two divided doses for 12 weeks.
The results were great, the health benefits of cardamom not only helped lower systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure, but also increased total antioxidant status by 90 percent after three months.
5.- Benefits of cardamom for diabetes
The high manganese content in this spice makes it a great choice for diabetics and anyone with blood sugar problems.
Research has shown that people diagnosed with diabetes have low blood levels of the trace mineral manganese.
Either way, adding extra manganese to the diet is a smart idea for diabetics, so you should use this space as part of your diabetic diet plan.
A clinical study found that people with diabetes who had higher levels of manganese in their blood were more protected against LDL or “bad” cholesterol than those with lower levels of manganese.
All this together shows that this spice is effective in fighting the onset of diabetes.
6.- Benefits of cardamom for digestion
As we have been telling you when we talk about the benefits of cardamom, we cannot fail to explain that this species is a traditional remedy in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of digestive problems, such as stomach aches, but there is also science that supports this common usage.
Studies have shown that cardamom is above other spices when it comes to helping the various stages of digestion.
The methanolic extract of the spice appears to be the component that helps control gastrointestinal disorders, such as heartburn, flatulence, and stomach cramps.
Studies have shown that cardamom also has gastroprotective effects, including helping stomach ulcers.
An animal model study published in 2014 examined the effects of hot water extracts from cardamom pods, turmeric, and sembung leaf on aspirin-induced gastric ulcers in animal subjects.
Throughout the study, the animals were given a mixture of herbs or another substance believed to be a protective agent followed by aspirin or simply given aspirin.
The researchers found that animals that received the herbal combination including cardamom before aspirin administration showed fewer gastric ulcers in quantity, smaller areas of gastric ulcers, and a lesser degree of stomach lining damage compared to subjects in the group. of aspirin.
7.- Treat asthma
The health benefits of cardamom can also provide relief for people struggling with respiratory problems such as asthma.
A study using an animal model indicated that the spice exhibits bronchodilator effects, which means that it is a substance that dilates the bronchi and bronchioles, decreasing airway resistance and increasing airflow to the lungs.
Cardamom was shown to help ease breathing, which of course is the primary target for anyone suffering from asthma or shortness of breath.
Nutrition facts of cardamom
Cardamom refers to the herbs of the genera Elettaria (green) and Amomum (black) of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae).
One tablespoon of ground cardamom contains approximately:
• 18 calories
• 4 grams of carbohydrates
• 0.6 grams of protein
• 0.4 grams of fat
• 1.6 grams of fiber
• 1.6 milligrams manganese (80 percent DV)
• 0.8 milligrams iron (4.4 percent DV)
• 13 milligrams magnesium (3.3 percent DV)
• 0.4 milligrams zinc (2.7 percent DV)
• 22 milligrams calcium (2.2 percent DV)
• 65 milligrams of potassium (1.9 percent DV)
• 10 milligrams phosphorus (1 percent DV)
Cardamom vs. Cilantro
Cardamom and coriander are two spices that have many similar benefits, for example, they are both used to naturally treat high blood sugar and diabetes, high blood pressure, and digestive problems, and both have a floral taste.
In addition, the presence of five spices in Ayurveda has shown incredible success for hundreds of years; Coriander and cardamom are both on this list, the other three being fennel, cumin, and ginger.
However, there are also some clear differences between these two spices, such as:
–Cardamom
• Made from the seed pods of various plants in the ginger family
• Indigenous people of South Asia and India
• It is used in Ayurveda to balance doshas and is considered a warming spice
• Introduced to North America by British colonial settlers in 1670
• Guatemala is currently the largest producer
• Used as a natural remedy for bad breath, cavities, and asthma
–Cilantro
• Comes from the seed of the coriander plant
• Native to the Mediterranean and elsewhere in southern Europe, all the way to North Africa and Western Asia
• It is used in Ayurveda to balance doshas and is considered a refreshing spice
• Brought to the Americas through Guatemala initially by a German coffee planter in 1914
• India is currently the largest producer
• Used as a food poisoning preventative, helps treat urinary infections and improves cholesterol levels.
Cardamom recipes and uses
Ground cardamom is readily available and found in grocery stores, but it’s best to buy it in whole pod form if you can find it (and have time to do a bit of spice grinding).
One of the benefits of cardamom, especially in capsules, is that they stay fresh for longer and are more powerful.
This spice can be stored for up to a year when purchased in pod form and can be ground with a mortar and pestle or spice grinder.
Most recipes call for the green variety, it generally has a strong, slightly sweet, and floral flavor, a high-quality cardamom can be expensive to buy, similar to true cinnamon and vanilla, but is so potent that normally only one is needed. a teaspoon or less in recipes so it will last a while.
It can be used whole or steeped in hot water and various liquids to create teas and other infused beverages, the seed can also be extracted from the pod to be ground and added to various dishes and smoothies.
This spice pairs well with flavors such as cinnamon, vanilla, almond, ginger, clove, coconut, and rose, adds complex depth when combined with these flavors, it is a popular additive in Indian chai tea.
It can also be used in savory stews and soups, in all kinds of bread, as well as sweeter dishes such as puddings, cakes, pancakes, and cakes.
It’s a great spice to use for steeping in hot liquids like green tea and peppermint or cold smoothies too.
Try my delicious and easy Herb Chai Tea recipe with the addition of a cardamom pod or two to stir and remove before drinking, or grind the seeds from a pod and add with the other spices.
Interesting facts about the history and of cardamom
Cardamom is native to the humid forests of southern India; the fruit can be collected from wild plants, but most are grown in India, Sri Lanka, and Guatemala; tall plants bloom for eight to nine months each year; pods or capsules mature slowly and should be picked when they are three-quarters of the way ripe.
After harvest, the pods are washed and dried; the drying method determines the final color of the cardamom; white indicates that the pods have been dried for many days in the sun, leaving them bleached; green pods have been dried for a day and a night in a heated room; The three seeds within each pod are considered cardamom spices.
At the beginning of the 21st century, Guatemala became the largest producer of this spice in the world, with an average annual production of between 25,000 and 29,000 tons; the plant was introduced there in 1914 by Oscar Majus Kloeffer, a German coffee planter.
India was previously the largest producer, but since 2000 the country has become the world’s second-largest producer.
It is a popular ingredient in South Asian dishes, especially curries, and in Scandinavian pastries; sometimes the name “cardamom” is used for other similar spices in the ginger family ( Amomum, Aframomum, Alpinia ) that are used in African and Asian cuisines or for commercial adulterants of true cardamoms.
The essential oil is found in the cells underlying the epidermis of the seed coat; the oil content of the seed varies from 2 percent to 10 percent, its main components being cineole and α-terpinyl acetate.
Cardamom oil is used to flavor pharmaceuticals and also as a fragrance in perfumes, soaps, detergents, and other body care products.
Side effects of cardamom
Cardamom is very safe when taken orally in normal amounts of food, there are no known common and potential side effects when ingested in normal amounts of food.
If you have gallstones then you should not take cardamom in medicinal amounts, the seed can trigger spasmodic pain in people suffering from gallstones.
The safety in medicinal amounts for pregnant and nursing mothers is unclear.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is best to take cardamom in food amounts and not in medicinal amounts.
Key points of cardamom
• Known as the ‘Queen of Spices, cardamom is a favorite in India for both its culinary and medicinal value.
• You can buy everything in pods or pre-soil.
• This spice can be added to a wide range of foods and beverages, including hot teas, curries, stews, smoothies, and desserts.
• It is especially high in the trace mineral manganese, which provides 80 percent of your daily needs in just one tablespoon.
• It also contains fiber, iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, potassium, and phosphorus.
• Studies have shown that cardamom can be an effective natural treatment for lowering blood pressure, which benefits heart and kidney health.
• Research has shown that it can kill bacteria in the mouth that contribute to bad breath and cavities.
• This spice has shown potential when it comes to the natural treatment of diabetes, cancer, and asthma.