Cardamom, also known as elaichi, can be found in the spice box in every Indian kitchen, and is used in a variety of preparations, right from tea to curries to sweets, as well as being a natural post-meal mouth freshener. 

To know more about this natural spice, click here. 

But apart from being a fantastic ingredient, this green pod has a variety of health benefits: 

1. Keeps Your Heart Healthy 

Cardamom contains essential minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium, all of which help maintain your heart rate and keep blood pressure under control. 

2. Fights Anemia 

Cardamom, being a rich source of copper, iron, and essential vitamins like riboflavin, vitamin C and niacin, helps prevent anemia and fights against its symptoms. 

3. Improves digestion 

Cardamom has many benefits related to the digestive system – It not only helps speed up the digestion process but also deals with problems like nausea, heartburn, acidity, upset stomach and burning in the stomach. No wonder elaichi is offered to guests after a heavy meal! 

4. Eliminates Bad Breath 

When you chew on a cardamom pod post a heavy meal, not only does it aid digestion, but also freshens your breath, a very important function given the pungent-smelling ingredients like ginger, garlic, onions and chillies forming the base of Indian cooking. Also, since it improves your digestive system, it helps eliminate the root cause of bad breath. 

5. Detoxifies the Body 

Cardamom has significant detoxifying elements which help flush out harmful substances from the body and fight free radicals, protecting it from diseases such as the likes of cancer. In particular, manganese, found in cardamom, plays a key role in this process. 

6. Relieves Acidity 

Chewing on an elaichi pod releases oils that activate your salivary glands and help create a lining in your stomach, cooling and harmonizing it, and protecting it from acidity. 

7. Soothes Respiratory Disorders 

Cardamom is known for its warming properties, heat up the body relieving it from lung-related problems like congestion. It also detoxifies blood and increases its circulation, thus helping asthmatics to breathe easier. 

8. Improves your sex life 

Elaichi acts as an antioxidant, flushing out toxins from the body, and also is a great tonic. While it is highly recommended for people recovering from illnesses and gaining the lost strength, it also does wonders for one’s sex life: Cardamom acts as a natural stimulant, making you feel more energetic and helping up your sexual activity levels. It also helps with specific sexual dysfunctions like impotency and premature ejaculation. Why opt for any treatments when you can solve your problem naturally! 

So, before resorting to mints with artificial flavours, or medicines to ease your acidity, give elaichi a shot. All you have to do is walk into your kitchen, open the box of spices, and pop one of these magic pods into your mouth! Can’t stand the strong flavor? Read on to know alternate ways to get your dose of cardamom. 

Different Ways To Include Cardamom In Your Daily Routine: 

1. Use elaichi frequently while cooking. To reap maximum benefits and flavor, crush the pod slightly before adding to any preparation. 

2. Drink elaichi tea, or infuse it in your regular green tea. Reap the most benefit out of this drink by having it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, and continue to sip on it during the day. 

3. Beat a cold by adding a few drops of cardamom oil to significantly up the benefits of steam inhalation. 

4. Chew on an elaichi pod after every meal to fight bad breath and aid digestion. 

5. Add some cardamom, cinnamon and turmeric to a glass of warm milk, and make this your pre-sleep drink to improve your immunity. A glass of this will go a long way in helping restore nutrients lost, especially when the body has become weak due to any illness. 

Click here to explore more benefits and uses of elaichi.