Health Benefits of Cardamom

The Middle East, North Africa, and Scandinavia are all native habitats for cardamom. Green, black, and Madagascar cardamom are the three main varieties. As the world’s top producer of cardamom, Guatemala has a lot to boast about.

The following are the impressive health benefits of cardamom:

Cardamom Aids In Cancer Prevention

A recent study found that cardamom contains cancer-fighting compounds that may kill cancer cells. These compounds may stunt new cancer cell growth. An additional study found that cardamom can regulate gene activity in skin cancer cells and reduce the activity of genes linked to cancer growth.

Cardamom is Rich in Fiber

Cardamom has a high fiber content. 2 Tbsp offers nearly 10 percent of the daily fiber needed by men and almost 15 percent for women. Fiber helps to soften and loosen your stools. Adding more fiber to your diet may help you lose weight by making you feel full faster, and fiber can help lower your cholesterol levels.

Cardamom is Good for the Heart

Cardamom is packed with potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The mineral potassium is necessary to regularize your heart rate and keep your blood pressure under control. A promising study showed that cardamom helps prevent aggregation and inflammation, reducing the risk of blood clots and strokes.

Cardamom May Treat and Prevent Cavities

Cardamom is very effective against the harmful bacteria Streptococcus mutans. This bacteria is very well known to colonize our mouth. Streptococcus mutans are a significant contributor to tooth decay. Cardamom enhances salivary secretion, which helps flush out plaque and prevents the growth of bacteria.

Cardamom May Improve Sexual Health

Studies have found that cardamom acts as a tonic and stimulant. Some results have found that cardamom may help to treat sexual dysfunctions like premature ejaculation and impotence. This spice contains high levels of cineole, which increases blood flow to the male and female sexual regions, which may increase sexual arousal.

Cardamom May Protect from Chronic Diseases

The seeds of cardamom are high in anti-inflammatory compounds. Foreign substances can cause inflammation in your body. Acute inflammation is reasonable and necessary, but long-term inflammation can lead to chronic illness.

Antioxidants abound in cardamom, which protects cells from harm and prevents inflammation from developing. There was a positive effect of cardamom extract (50–100 mg per kg of body weight) in rats at a dose of 50–100 mg per kilogram (23–46 mg per pound).

According to a study on rats, cardamom powder reduced liver inflammation caused by eating a high-carbohydrate, fat-rich diet. Although there are fewer studies on the anti-inflammatory capabilities of cardamom in humans, research suggests that supplements may boost antioxidant levels by 90%.

Cardamom May Have Antibacterial Effects and Treat Infections

Cardamom has antibacterial effects that extend beyond the mouth and may be used to cure infections. According to research, cardamom extracts and essential oils have chemicals that combat a variety of common bacterial strains.

Existing research on the antibacterial effects of cardamom has only studied individual bacteria in laboratories. As a result, at this time, there is insufficient evidence to assert that the spice would have the same effect on people.

Cardamom May Improve Breathing and Oxygen Use

Cardamom has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Cardamom may help increase breathing by improving airflow to your lungs. During exercise, cardamom has a refreshing scent that allows your body to use oxygen more efficiently.

Cardamom’s ability to relax the airway may help you breathe easier and utilize more oxygen. It might be particularly beneficial for treating asthma. In a study of rats and rabbits, cardamom extract was found to relax the airway in the throat. It might help people with asthma prevent their inflamed airways from closing and improve breathing if they took an extract that had a similar effect.

Cardamom May Lower Blood Sugar Levels

Cardamom is believed to lower blood sugar when taken as a powder. One research discovered that feeding rats a high-fat, high-carb (HFHC) diet for eight weeks caused their blood sugar levels to stay higher than if they were given a regular diet for the same length of time.

More research is needed to understand cardamom’s impact on people’s blood sugar.

Cardamom May Help Improve Digestive Health

In addition to flavor, cardamom can be used in foods for taste and digestion. The spice boosts metabolism since it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties of cardamom result in better digestion, absorption of nutrients, and fat metabolism. Cardamom also helps to relieve GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems.

Cardamom Promotes Heart Health

The antioxidants in cardamom can help improve heart health. Cardamom also contains fiber, which has been shown to aid in lowering cholesterol levels and promoting heart health. Consuming cardamom lowers blood pressure, which is beneficial to the cardiovascular system. Put a cup of freshly squeezed peach juice with a teaspoon of coriander.

When it comes to heart health, the black cardamom appears to be superior to the green variety. In patients with ischemic heart disease, plasma lipids, antioxidant status, and fibrinolytic activity (a process that prevents blood clots from developing and creating problems) improve after taking black cardamom.

Cardamom Has Diuretic Properties

Cardamom may benefit people with high blood pressure. According to one study, 20 individuals with high blood pressure were given three grams of cardamom powder daily. Blood pressure readings had dropped significantly to the normal range after 12 weeks.

The successful findings of this research are most likely due to the high amounts of antioxidants in cardamom. The antioxidant status of the participants improved by 90% after the study. Antioxidants have been linked to lowered blood pressure.

Researchers believe that cardamom may lower blood pressure due to its diuretic effect, which can help you urinate more frequently to eliminate water that accumulates in your body, such as around your heart. Cardamom extract has been found to increase urination and lower blood pressure in rats.

Cardamom Helps Fight Depression

Cardamom may help people cope with depression, according to a health study. Powder a few cardamom seeds and boil them in the water alongside your everyday tea for improved outcomes. For better results, drink tea daily.

Cardamom Helps Fight Asthma

Cardamom has antiasthmatic properties, including reduction of wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest. The spice improves lung blood flow by stimulating circulation in the lungs. It also helps to relieve mucus membranes because it relaxes them.

According to another study, green cardamom has been used to cure asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory problems.

Cardamom May Enhance Appetite

Cardamom essential oil, for example, has been shown to help people with a lack of appetite in one Polish study. Cardamom oil can also be used as an appetite stimulant. Cardamom can also aid in treating histoplasmosis, a disease characterized by a loss of appetite as one of its symptoms.

Cardamom Could Prevent Blood Clots

Cardamom has been shown in animal studies to prevent blood clots. The Central Food Technological Research Institute in India includes several compounds that reduce blood clot formation. Research in this area, however, is lacking.

Partha Nandi MD, FACP

`Partha Nandi MD, FACP`