9 ways cardamom, the ‘queen of spices’, can boost your health

A cup full of cardamom pods. The seeds they contain have many potential health benefits, say practitioners of Ayurveda - traditional Indian medicine. Photo: Getty Images

Cardamom, consisting of the seeds of a plant in the ginger family, is one of the oldest known spices. Ancient Egyptians used it in medicine and as a breath freshener, and employed cardamom oil to mummify their dead.

It has a rich aroma and flavour, and is the third most expensive spice in the world after saffron and vanilla. Sometimes called ela, cardamom is known as the “queen of spices” because it – along with black pepper, the “king of spices” – was a vital part of the early spice trade.

Cardamom has been used extensively in India for centuries, in food and in brewing tea. It is also used in Ayurveda – traditional Indian medicine.

Dixa Bhavsar, an Ayurvedic practitioner in Gujarat in India, says spices generally “heat” the body and help to stimulate digestion. Cardamom, however, “helps in balancing thirst and hunger”.

Dr Dixa Bhavsar is an Ayurvedic practitioner in Gujarat in India. Photo: Dixa Bhavsar

“Most of the times when I consult patients with [an] hormonal imbalance and [a] compromised gut, they have excessive thirst. Cardamom is my go-to spice for [treating] this,” she says.

Cardamom is an important ingredient in chyawanprash, a jam-like health supplement made primarily with gooseberries and spices, and a staple in Indian households. It has been known to improve digestion, strengthen the respiratory system and boost immunity.

In India, cardamom tea is drunk to ward off coughs and colds. Cardamom is a rich source of minerals including iron, magnesium, selenium, zinc and manganese, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Its other nutrients include calcium, potassium, vitamin B and vitamin C, small amounts of protein and fatty acids.

“Ela is used in very small quantities but has far-reaching benefits,” says Madhumitha Krishnan, an Ayurvedic practitioner in Chennai, India. “It is one of a few spices that has a ‘cooling’ effect, and is ‘tridoshic’ and balances all three doshas [energy types in Ayurveda] – vatta, pitta and kapha – in our body.”

The spice is also good for skincare. “Cardamom powder can be used as an exfoliant [to] reduce itching, pigmentation and improve skin texture,” says Abhishek Lulla, an Ayurvedic practitioner also in Chennai.

Cardamom pods (front, centre) for sale in the Old Delhi spice market in India. Photo: Getty Images

You can buy cardamom as whole pods with the seeds inside, as powder, as an essential oil or as an herbal supplement – usually in the form of a capsule.

Three easy ways to have cardamom are to put some seeds into your tea; stir some powdered cardamom with honey into hot water; or to chew a whole pod.

Researchers are studying cardamom to find evidence to support Ayurvedic beliefs about its properties and to understand its potential in modern medicine.

Here are nine of cardamom’s potential health benefits:

1. Good gut health

Cardamom is an appetite stimulant and most commonly used for digestive issues. It can also be used to treat nausea, vomiting, bloating, heartburn – even stomach ulcers.

According to a study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research, it was found to offer protection against Helicobacter pylori – a type of bacteria linked to stomach ulcers.

 2. Improved oral health

Cardamom has been used since ancient times to improve oral health and to treat bad breath. Research shows that the spice has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, with one study finding that cardamom is effective in fighting five types of bacteria that can cause dental cavities, bad breath and gum disease.

Cineole, the major active component of cardamom oil, is also a strong antiseptic.

3. Improved lung function

Cardamom may help to improve lung function by relaxing the air passage to the lungs, according to a study published in the Journal of Health and Allied Sciences. Participants of the study who inhaled cardamom oil before a workout had higher oxygen uptake levels after exercise than the participants who had not.

4. Lower inflammation and blood pressure

Cardamom, which is rich in antioxidants, can help fight inflammation and can also regulate high blood pressure – the spice helps expel excess water from the body by encouraging more frequent urination.

In one study, researchers gave three grams of cardamom powder a day to 20 adults with high blood pressure. After 12 weeks, their blood pressure levels had fallen to within the normal range.

5. Body detox

Cardamom may help to clear toxins from the body.

In one study, overweight or obese people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease who were given cardamom saw improvements in their liver function markers. Another study, published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, suggests that cardamom helps reduce liver congestion.

6. Weight-loss aid

Since cardamom is high in melatonin, which boosts the metabolism, it may help in the fat burning and weight loss process.

7. Heart health safeguard

The use of cardamom may also help to prevent heart diseases. Studies in rats found it helped protect against heart attacks, improved heart function and lowered cholesterol levels. More research is needed to determine if these effects would be found in humans.

8. Relaxation aid

Cardamom oil is used in aromatherapy and, according to a 2011 study, can help patients to relax.

9. Improved sexual performance

Ancient medical texts list cardamom as an aphrodisiac that can help with erectile dysfunction and impotence by improving blood circulation.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Cleansing Your Lungs Has Never Been Easier!

 Protecting your lungs is vital, if you want to preserve your long-term health. Over a period of time, toxins from mold and bacteria can build up in your lungs causing you ill health. Therefore, getting into the habit of cleansing your lungs on regular basis is a good thing to do. A lung cleanse promotes normal lung functioning, helps to reduce swelling and inflammation and rejuvenates lung strength and vitality. 

To add to this, it also helps clear any mucus from your airways and improves circulation. It can even help treat asthma, throat infections, bad breath and chronic bronchitis. Fortunately, cleansing your lungs is pretty simple to do; you can easily do it with some home remedies mixed with lifestyle and dietary changes. 

Here are ten great ways you can cleanse and detox your lungs:  

1. Do Deep Breathing Exercises

Deep breathing exercises can help improve your lung capacity by delivering more vital oxygen to your body. This will strengthen your lungs, and clear and cleanse your airways. To add to this, it will increase your energy and reduce stress. To carry out this exercise, follow the instructions below: 

 

1. Find a comfortable place and lie flat on your back. 

 

2. Place your hands on your stomach at the bottom of your rib cage. 

 

3. Close your eyes and breathe in deeply through your nose while counting to 5. 

 

4. Hold your breath for 2 seconds, and then breathe out slowly while counting to 5. 

 

5. Repeat 9 or 10 times. 

 

6. Do this exercise 2 or 3 times a day. 

 

2. Use a Castor Oil Pack 

Castor oil stimulates waste elimination and draws toxins out of the lungs, uterus, digestive system and liver. It can even help reduce inflammation and improve lymphatic circulation. 

 

To make this pack, follow the instructions below: 

 

1. Soak 2 to 3 pieces of wool flannel in 1 cup of warm castor oil (use only organic, cold-pressed castor oil). 

 

2. Lie down on a large plastic sheet. 

 

3. Place the soaked wool flannels on your chest and sides so that they cover your lung area. 

 

4. Cover these flannels with the large plastic sheet. 

 

5. Place a heating pad over the plastic sheet for 1 to 2 hours. 

 

6. Remove the packs and wash with warm water to remove the oil residue. 

 

7. Repeat twice a week for at least one month.

3. Take a Hot shower/Visit a Sauna  

A hot shower or sauna increases sweat secretion which helps your lungs to get rid of toxic substances. Please remember to drink some water if you have spent a long time in a hot shower or sauna so that your body does not become too dehydrated. 

 

4. Add Ginger to Your Diet

 Ginger can also be used to detoxify your lungs as it contains several chemical compounds which help eliminate air pollutants from the air passages before they have the chance to irritate your lungs. It also improves blood circulation. To make use of ginger to clean your lungs, you can: 

 

1. Drink 2 to 3 cups of ginger tea each day. To make this tea, simply boil 1 teaspoon of sliced ginger in 1 cup of water. Allow it to simmer for about 5-10 minutes. Strain it and add some lemon juice or honey to improve the taste. 

 

2. Include raw ginger in your cooking. 

 

3. Ask your doctor for a ginger supplement. 

 

N.B. If you are taking heart or high blood pressure medication you should avoid taking ginger in excess.

5. Consume Licorice 

Licorice is an effective herb which can help cleanse your lungs. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which can reduce inflammation of the bronchial tubes. Furthermore, it has antibacterial and antiviral properties which help prevent and treat mild lung infections, as well as reduce irritation from a cough, sore throat or allergies. To cleanse your lungs using licorice, you can: 

 

1. Drink 2 to 3 cups of licorice root tea over the course of a few days. To make this tea, simply add 1 teaspoon of licorice powder to a cup of hot water (not boiling), cover and leave for 10 minutes before drinking. 

 

2. Add half a teaspoon of licorice powder with a tiny bit of honey and consume it twice a day for a few days. 

 

N.B. Licorice may not be suitable for pregnant women, infants and people who have kidney diseases, diabetes, and high blood pressure or low potassium levels. 

 

6. Steam Eucalyptus Oil 

Eucalyptus is commonly found in cough sweets and syrups. It's effective due to its expectorant compound called cineole, which can help fight coughs, congestion and soothe irritated sinus passages. To use eucalyptus oil to cleanse your lungs simply add a few drops of it to hot water and inhale the steam for up to 15 minutes. 

 

N.B. Eucalyptus oil can decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medication. Therefore, taking eucalyptus oil with medications can increase their side effects and effects. Please talk to your healthcare provider to determine whether any medications you take may be affected.

7. Consume Antioxidant-rich Foods

Eating a healthy diet can drastically improve the strength of your lungs, and foods which are high in antioxidants are especially beneficial. Antioxidants have been shown to increase lung capacity and improve the quality of a person’s breathing. Foods that are high in antioxidants include blueberries, broccoli, spinach, grapes, sweet potatoes, fish and green tea. 

 

8. Consume Lobelia 

Lobelia is yet another herb that can cleanse your lungs. The alkaloid present in it, known as lobeline, helps to promote the expulsion of phlegm by thinning mucus. It even helps to stimulate the release of epinephrine, which relaxes the airways and makes it easier to breathe. To detox your lungs using lobelia, you can: 

 

1. Place 5 to 10 lobelia leaves in a pot of boiling water. Cover and steep for around 5 minutes, then inhale the steam. Do this for about 10 minutes each morning and evening for a few days to cleanse your lungs. 

 

2. You can also drink it as a herbal tea. However, this herb can be toxic if taken in high doses, so take it under the supervision of an herbal practitioner. 

 

9. Drink Mullein Tea 

The mullein plant is known to clear mucus and cleanse bronchial tubes. The flowers and leaves of this plant are used to make an herbal extract that can strengthen the lungs. To make a mullein tea, simply add one teaspoon of the dried herb to a cup of boiled water. 

 

10. Add More Oregano to Your Diet  

Oregano contains carvacrol and rosmarinic acid. Both of these compounds are natural decongestants and histamine reducers which have been shown to benefit the respiratory tract and nasal passage. The oils in oregano (thymol and carvacol) inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus and pseudomonas aeruginosa.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com     is my latest addition to my blogs. I'm going to add posts there, do give me your valuable feed back on my blogs. Thanks a lot, take care, be healthy and be happy.