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Cardamom Benefits in Your Cooking.
Jul
What is Cardamom?
Cardamom is a delicious smelling spice that has great medicinal value. It finds a place of importance in Ayurvedic medicine and has innumerable cardamom benefits. It can treat a number of medical and general conditions. Adding green cardamom pods to your cooking will not only add flavor to it but will also improve your health in a number of ways.
Important nutrients and their effects
Cardamom is a rich source of calcium, sodium, sulfur, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins C and B6. It also has a generous content of phosphorus, iron, niacin, thiamin, manganese, riboflavin, and antioxidants. The most important nutrients and cardamom benefits have been discussed here.
Zinc
Cardamom has a moderate amount of zinc. When this nutrient mixes with the enzymes and proteins in your body, chemical reactions in the cells are carried out. Gene activity is regulated and the cells receive a structural support. Zinc boosts your reproductive health and supports your immune system. 2 tbsp of cardamom have 0.9 mg of zinc. It makes up about 8% of the required daily intake for women and 11% of the required daily intake for men.
Manganese
Cardamom is very rich in manganese. It promotes the production of collagen which in turn enhances the healing process after an injury. Manganese also helps in the production of a kind of protein known as the proteoglycan. Proteoglycan improves your skeletal health. Manganese can repair tissue damage and improve your metabolism. 2 tbsp of cardamom have 3.2 mg of manganese. It is more than double the amount of daily intake recommended for women and one and a half times more than the amount of daily intake recommended for men.
Iron
The presence of iron is crucial for the storage and transport of oxygen in your body. The proteins in your body need iron to carry oxygen to the bloodstream and store oxygen in the muscle tissues for use in the future. Iron strengthens your immune system and helps the body cells to produce energy for your day to day activities. 2 tbsp of cardamom has 1.6 mg of iron. It makes up 20% of the required daily intake for men and 9% of the required daily intake for women.
Cardamom benefits for health
Some of the cardamom benefits have been discussed here very briefly.
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Treats ulcers and halitosis in the mouth Cardamom can fight bad breath and prevent the formation of ulcers in your mouth. The fragrance is heavenly and it can fight harmful bacteria. It can cure a toothache and other oral infections along with relieving you of a cough, cold and any respiratory congestion.
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Improves the digestive system The volatile oil of cardamom has acetic and formic acids. It has a soothing effect on your intestines and stomach. It treats indigestion, constipation, and dysentery. Cardamom can also reduce acidity and heartburn.
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Treats depression Cardamom acts as an antidepressant. Its pleasant fragrance has a very relaxing effect. The antioxidants present in cardamom reduce anxiety. You can add cardamom oil to your bath water for aromatherapy. It can cure headaches and dizziness as well.
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Fights and controls certain kinds of cancer The phytochemicals present in cardamom are effective in fighting hormone-receptor-positive cancers. The IC3 (indole-3-carbinol) and DIM (diindolylmethane) phytochemicals can prevent cancers of the breast, ovaries, and prostate.
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Prevents body against aging Cardamom acts as an anti-oxidizing agent to prevent your body’s aging process. It also lowers your blood pressure blood pressure and improves your immune system. Cardamom can detox and cleanse your skin.
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Treats urinary problems Urinary problems such as nephritis, painful urination, and frequent urination can be treated with cardamom. Along with alma juice and banana leaf, cardamom can resolve your bladder and kidney related problems.
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Helps in weight loss Cardamom enhances the metabolic rate of the body. It speeds up the process of burning fat. Drinking cardamom tea after your meals can help you to lose weight. You can enjoy the cardamom benefits for weight loss.
Green Cardamom pods can be added to both sweet and spicy food. Some people also add it to their milk, tea, and coffee. The spice has been in use for centuries. It grows in abundance in India and elsewhere. Almost every other dish in India, Sri Lanka, and the Arabic countries has cardamom in it in one form or the other. You can add a whole pod or powder the tiny black seeds within the shell before adding it to your cooking. Either way, the cooked food will have a wonderful aroma and will have a lot of health benefits.
If you are not using Green cardamom pods in your food currently, You can loss cardamom benefits so make it a part of your diet today. It will long-lasting thing results. Look up for recipes with cardamom in them and get started today. You are guaranteed to fall in love with this magical spice.
Sources:
http://www.organicauthority.com/cardamom-benefits-and-delicious-spicy-uses/
http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-cardamom.html
http://healthyliving.azcentral.com/benefits-found-cardamom-19778.html