Cardamom (elaichi) is an aromatic seed pod that lends a distinct aroma and imparts rich flavour, making dishes delicious. Known as the queen of spices, cardamom originated in India and is prized for its health benefits and healing properties. The spice is rich in phytochemicals cineole, and is used to treat tooth and gum infections, throat problems, digestive disorders, and is an antidote for poisons and venoms.

Read on to discover the health benefits of cardamom

Treats cough and cold

Cardamom improves the blood circulation to the lungs and helps in curing asthma. Taken in small amounts, cardamom is effective in treating respiratory allergies. The warming spice heats up the body and helps to eliminate coughs, colds and headaches.

Promotes Digestive Health

The strong aroma of cardamom, activates your taste, sensory elements, and eases digestion. The presence of methanolic extract, a component in cardamom, helps in alleviating gastrointestinal problems such as acidity, flatulence, indigestion, and stomach aches.

Controls Blood Pressure

Cardamom helps to lower blood pressure, which is vital in maintaining the health of your heart and kidneys. A study conducted at RNT Medical College India revealed that cardamom was helped decrease blood pressure and improved the antioxidant status by 90% at the end of the study.

Prevents Colorectal Cancer

Cardamom shows a promising effect as a natural cancer treatment, particularly colorectal cancer. Cardamom can decrease azoxymethane-induced colon cancer by reducing the inflammation, inhibits cancer cell growth and promotes cancer cell death. The National Cancer Institute in Kolkata have shown that dietary cardamom has a positive result in responding to colorectal cancer by 48%

Dental Care

Cardamom possesses antimicrobial properties and is used in traditional medicines for centuries in dealing with dental issues and bad breath. The spice is the ideal choice to inhibit only infectious microbes, but not the probiotic bacteria. The major active component of cardamom oil, cineole, is a potent antiseptic known for killing the bacteria causing bad breath, prevents the development of cavities, reverse cavities, cleanses the teeth, and thwarts tooth decay.

Detoxifies the Body

Cardamom helps to eliminate waste through the kidney and act as a diuretic. It combats infections and helps to cleanse the urinary tract, bladder, and urethra by removing the accumulated calcium, urea along with the toxins. Evidence shows that the essential oils and biochemicals present in cardamom provide detoxifying effects.