Cardamom or Elaichi is popularly known as the queen of spices. It is generally used as flavouring agent and as a mouth freshner as well. Cardamom belongs to the same family as ginger. Let’s look at this amazing summer spice in detail.
Basics about cardamom
- Cardamom boosts metabolism in the body and helps the body to burn fat more effectively
- There are two types of cardamom
- Sukshma Ela (choti elaichi)
- Bhrat Ela (badi elaichi)
Nutritional value one tbsp cardamom
- Calories : 18
- Fat : 0.4 g
- Carbs : 4.0 g
- Fibre : 1.6 g
- Protein : 0.6 g
- Potassium : 64.9 mg
- Calcium : 22.2 mg
- Iron : 0.81 mg
- Magnesium : 13.3 mg
- Phosphorus : 10.3 mg
Ayurvedic properties
- Potency : Cold
- Taste : Sweet and pungent
- Qualities : Light and dry
- Effect on dosha : Helps balance all three dosha
Benefits of consuming cardamom
- Cardamom may help in improving breathing and oxygen use in the body
- Compounds in cardamom may help increase airflow to your lungs
- It also helps to relax your airways
- It helps to boost immunity and prevent cold and flu
- Cardamom is anti inflammatory and has anti microbial properties
- Cardamom helps improve blood circulation and prevent blood clots in the body
- It acts as an anti depressent. Sniffing it helps to beat stress and is very refreshing. Cardamom also helps promote sleep in some people
- Cardamom is loaded with antioxidants and it helps clean the body of free radicals and cellular aging
- Some reasearch show that cardamom can help fight cancer
- It promotes liver health and can also help you get rid of hiccups
Benefits of cardamom in weight loss
- Cardamom belongs to the same family as ginger
- It helps ease symptoms of digestive problems
- It is used to combat nausea, acidity, bloating, gas and constipation
- Cardamom helps to detoxify the body and remove waste
- Cardamom is a powerful diuretic which helps to clean urinary tract, bladder and kdneys
- Cardamom has melatonin which helps to increase the burning process of fats in the body
Precaution on excess consumption
- Should be consumed in high amount specially by pregnant women and lactating mothers
- Avoid cardamom is excess if you have gallstones
Tips on buying and storing cardamom
- Buy cardamom that is green in colour
- Avoid buying cardamom in powder form
- Instead make fresh cardamom powder at home
- Powder has low nutrients and there’s a big chance of adulteration
- Cardamom pods can last upto a year if stored in a airtight container
- Make sure to store it in a cool, dry place
How to consume cardamom ?
- You can consume it as cardamom water
- It can also be used as cardamom herbal tea
- Cardamom is very good in milk
- It can be used in a smoothie to improve digestion