Cardamom is a common and powerful spice amongst all the different Indian spices that are available. It plays a pivotal role in the Indian cuisine. It has many health benefits attached to it apart from its use as a mouth freshener. What is cardamom and why is it so important? They come from cardamom plants in India and has been mentioned in the ancient texts of Veda. It has even been mentioned in Ayurveda and captured the fancy of other civilizations like Romans, Greek and Egyptians since centuries. Let us discuss its health benefits on the human body here.
Cardamom Benefits
Health Benefits of Cardamom:
1. Blood Pressure:
As cardamom is a diuretic fiber and potassium rich spice, it is very good for people with high blood pressure as it lower downs the elevated blood pressure level in the body.
2. Digestion:
It helps in improving the digestion, by making the saliva secretion better and also rouses the nervous system to stimulate digestion. Cardamom is very much related to ginger and is used in the same way to deal with digestive problems. It can be used to combat nausea, loss of appetite, acidity, gas, heartburn, bloating, constipation and other digestive problems.
3. Love potion / aphrodisiac:
It is also used in love potions because of its aphrodisiac qualities. A catalyst for romance comes from its oil contents like borneol, camphor and eucalyptol which are volatile oils.
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4. Hiccups:
Cardamom is an anti-spasmodic spice which can help you in getting rid of hiccups. This anti-spasmodic trait of cardamom provides relief from involuntary muscle spasms, like intestinal and stomach cramps.
5. Detoxification:
Cardamoms are known to detoxify the body. They cleanse and remove all the waste from the body through the kidneys.
6. Anti-Oxidants:
Many of the phytonutrients, vitamins and essential oils which are present in cardamom act as antioxidants. This magical spice helps in cleaning up the free radicals and tends to resist cellular aging.
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7. Depression:
Though the real science behind the anti-depressant qualities of this spice has not been studied yet, Ayurveda swears that the cardamom tea is a perfect way to fight depression. It has a natural ingredient which tends to detoxify the body and rejuvenate the cells which altogether help in fighting depression.
8. Cold & Flu:
Cardamom is a pungent spice which tends to help in preventing and relieving cold and flu symptoms. Cardamom is a good home remedy for cold and flu.
9. Pathogens:
People having infections are suggested to consume cardamom which is known to prevent infections due to its therapeutic properties. The various essential oils in cardamom inhibit the growth of bacteria, viruses, mold and fungus.
[ Read: Cardamom Tea Benefits ]
10. Bad breath / Oral Health:
Cardamom is a cure for bad breath. Apart from its trait that helps in curing bad breath, cardamom is also used for mouth ulcers and mouth infections.
11. Asthma:
Cardamom is considered to be highly beneficial for asthma patients. It also acts as a natural remedy for whooping cough and bronchitis.
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.
Cardamom Nutrition Chart (USDA)
Principle
|
Nutrient Value
|
Percentage of RDA
|
| Energy | 311 Kcal | 15.5% |
| Carbohydrates | 68.47 g | 52.5% |
| Protein | 10.76 g | 19% |
| Total Fat | 6.7 g | 23% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 28 g | 70% |
Vitamins
| ||
| Niacin | 1.102 mg | 7% |
| Pyridoxine | 0.230 mg | 18% |
| Riboflavin | 0.182 mg | 14% |
| Thiamin | 0.198 mg | 16.5% |
| Vitamin A | 0 IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 21 mg | 35% |
Electrolytes
| ||
| Sodium | 18 mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 1119 mg | 24% |
Minerals
| ||
| Calcium | 383 mg | 38% |
| Copper | 0.383 mg | 42.5% |
| Iron | 13.97 mg | 175% |
| Magnesium | 229 mg | 57% |
| Manganese | 28 mg | 1217% |
| Phosphorus | 178 mg | 25% |
| Zinc | 7.47 mg | 68% |
Cardamom, Nutritional value per 100 g.
One table spoon of cardamom, that is about 6 grams, contains 18 calories, 0 mg cholesterol, 1 gram of protein and 4 grams of carbohydrates. The proportion of daily values provided by basic nutrients such as calcium, iron and Vitamin C are 2%, 4% and 2% respectively. Dietary fiber content is about 4 grams in this quantity of cardamom. The fat content provides about 3 calories. It is mildly inflammatory and contains about 0.6 grams of proteins. Other portions of calories come from the contribution of carbohydrates-12.6, fat-3.2 and protein-2.1. Minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and phosphorous are also provided in 22mg, 0.8mg, 13.2mg, 64.3mg and 10.2 mg proportions respectively. The percentage daily values are based on a 2000 calorie intake reference diet for all these values. Cardamom must be consumed in a daily basis as it provides sufficient dietary fiber, iron and manganese.
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