Health benefits of cardamom: 7 reasons why this spice should be in your diet daily

   

Cardamom, known as the queen of spices, belongs to the ginger family and is celebrated for its unique flavour, which enhances both sweet and savoury dishes, making it essential in various cuisines. Cardamom can be found as whole seed pods, ground spice powder, essential oils, and herbal supplements.

Nutritional profile and health benefits

Beyond its culinary use, cardamom is valued for its potential health benefits due to its rich content of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. One tablespoon of ground cardamom contains 18 calories, 0.4 grams of fat, 4 grams of carbohydrates, 1.6 grams of fiber, and 0.6 grams of protein. It also provides significant amounts of potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus.

Here are the benefits of consuming cardamom throughout the day.

Antimicrobial properties: Cardamom essential oil has shown strong antimicrobial effects, capable of killing various bacteria and fungi by disrupting their cell membranes, says Mumbai-based nutritionist and wellness speaker Rashi Rakshit. This property indicates its potential in developing new antimicrobial drugs. However, it’s crucial to avoid ingesting cardamom essential oil and to consult healthcare providers before using new herbal remedies to prevent adverse interactions with medications.

Benefits for metabolic syndrome and diabetes: Cardamom may be beneficial for those with metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Metabolic syndrome includes conditions like obesity, high blood sugar, hypertension, high triglycerides, and low levels of good cholesterol. Animal studies indicate that cardamom can improve cholesterol levels and reduce weight in rats on a high-carbohydrate and fat diet, says Rakshit. Human studies also show that cardamom can lower inflammation markers and improve insulin levels and hemoglobin A1c in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Heart health: It has been reported in the past that cardamom can protect against heart attacks and improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels, says the expert. These benefits are believed to stem from its antioxidant properties, which may enhance heart function.

Oral health: Traditionally, cardamom has been used to freshen breath and promote oral health. It contains cineole, an oil with antimicrobial properties that can fight bacteria causing bad breath, cavities, and gum disease. Studies show that chewing cardamom seeds can balance pH levels in the mouth, potentially preventing cavities and improving overall oral hygiene, says Rakshit.

 Liver health: In Ayurvedic medicine, cardamom is praised for its detoxifying properties. Scientific studies demonstrate that cardamom can improve liver health markers in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Animal studies also suggest that cardamom can reduce liver stress and protect against damage from high-fat diets.

Anticancer properties: Cardamom contains phytochemicals that may have anticancer properties. While it cannot replace conventional cancer treatments, animal studies indicate that cardamom supplementation can reduce the size and weight of tumors, highlighting its potential role in cancer prevention.

Ulcer prevention: Cardamom may help prevent and treat stomach ulcers. It is said that cardamom extract can reduce the size and number of ulcers in rats by protecting the stomach lining. This effect is similar to the benefits of turmeric and sembung leaf when used together.

 

 

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

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