Categories
Cardamom Health Tips

Surprising Benefits of Cardamom

Do you know the sweet smelling and flavour full cardamom presents us with several health benefits. Cardamom helps to treat constipation, asthma, controls stress, controls hypertension, cures urinary tract infections and many more.

Cardamom is a spice that comes from seeds of various plants from the zingiberaceae family. Scientific name of green cardamom is Elettaria cardamomum. Cardamom is native to India. Today they are available in many places like China, Bhutan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea, and Japan. Cardamom is considered as one of the oldest spices of world. Cardamom is called as the queen of spices and it is one of the most expensive spices in the world. Cardamom when not stored properly loses its aroma. There are two types of cardamoms available, they are green cardamom and black cardamom.

elachi

Green cardamom– Its scientific name is elettaria cardamomum, it has a green shell and small black seeds inside. It is also called true cardamom.
Black cardamom– it is also called as brown cardamom, hill cardamom, Bengal cardamom and Nepal cardamom. Its scientific name is Amomum subulatum. It has a smoky character derived from drying.
Cardamoms in India are also known as choti elaichi, elaichi in hindi and yalakulu in telugu. Cardamom is commonly used in Indian cooking, it has a strong, unique sweet and spicy taste, with an aromatic, resinous fragrance. Green and black cardamom both are widely used in sweets, savory dishes, spice mixes, in masala curries, beverages, baking sweets, bread, wine and garnishing. Cardamoms are also used in beauty products like perfumes, soaps, body wash and powders.

Usage of Elaichi and Nutrition Facts :

Elaichi or cardamom are widely used in Indian cooking, they give aroma, taste, and flavour to the dishes. They are also used in sweets, garam masala powder, beverages and baking. Elaichi can be used in the form of whole and powdered form. Elaichi’s are also used in perfumes due to their aroma. Along with cardamom, Cardamom oil is also used in remedies, it has healing properties.
Nutrition facts– cardamom contains vitamins, minerals and micronutrients that are useful for health. It contains vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin C, niacin and riboflavin. Cardamoms are rich in minerals like calcium, copper, iron, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium and manganese. Cardamom is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and is good source of dietary fibre. Elaichi also have antiseptic, antioxidant and stimulant properties.

Health Benefits of Cardamom :

Cardamom offers a number of health benefits like
Improves digestion– Elaichi helps speed up the process of digestion as it is carminative in nature; it reduces inflammation, relieves acidity, nausea and improves appetite.
Detoxification– Our body release toxins in the process of metabolism, cardamom is a great purifier and removes toxins and waste through kidneys.
Beats bad breath– Strong flavour, pleasant smell of cardamom helps to beat bad breath by killing germs that cause bad breath.
Controls heart rate– Elaichi are packed with vitamin, minerals that are good for our heart. Potassium in elaichi helps to treat and control BP.
Cold and flu– Elaichi contain vitamin C which improve immunity and treats cold and flu.
Some other health benefits of cardamom are it has anti inflammatory, anti asthmatic properties, treats depression, treats sore throat. Good for skin in many ways like it improves complexion, sooths, clears and treats allergies.