Cardamom (also known as cardamon) is a spice which is a collection of small black seeds in a very thin green colored pod. This spice is mostly grown in India and Indian Subcontinent. It is easily recognized by it strong very fragrance. This tini tiny, strong fragrant spice is the third most expensive spice in the world, the first two being vanilla and saffron. We often bite in a cardamom after a meal to freshen our breath, but cardamom does a lot more than this, of course it’s fragrance and flavor makes it one of the most sought spice in the world. Being a fragrant and flavorful spice, it also enhances the flavors in your food. If you want to know the benefits of this fragrant spice and how to make use of it other than just a mouth freshener, read on.

1. Digestion

Cardamom is distinctly related to ginger and thus has a few ginger like characteristics. It aids digestion and boosts appetite. It can also be used to treat other gastric problems like, soothe heart burn, nausea, bloating, gas constipation, acidity, etc. See, there is a bigger reason to chew cardamom after a meal than to just freshen your breath.

2. Healthy Teeth And Gums

Cardamom is rich in antioxidants and is an anti-inflammatory. It helps to relieve a sore throat, mouth ulcers by reducing the inflammation. It also reduces swelling on the gums thus preventing gingivitis and gum bleeding. It also prevents and soothes other mouth and throat infections. Rinsing your mouth twice with warm water added with salt and cardamom will prevent you from most of the oral infections.

3. Blood Clots

Cardamom stops the platelets from aggregating and sticking to the arteries, thus is prevents blood clotting. Blood clotting reduces the proper blood flow through out the body as the blood and is a reason for blockages. These blockages or clots can lead to several other diseases like obesity, heart attack, etc. Regularly eating cardamom prevents the formation of these blood clots.

4. Hiccups

Along with its many other traits, cardamom is also anti-spasmodic. This characteristic makes cardamom useful to get a quick relief from hiccups. It is also very beneficial for other involuntary muscle spasms like stomach, leg and intestinal cramps.

5. Cleanses The Kidney

This fragrant spice carries diuretic properties which along with being an antioxidant. This helps to regularly flush out all the harmful toxins, excess salt and water, and other wastes from the body keeping the kidney, bladder, urinary tract, clean and prevents us from the diseases they cause. Just adding a few cardamom seeds to your tea will bring a lot of difference in your daily life and help to keep your body and mind healthy.

6. Treats Stones

Cardamom has been used as an Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times. Being rich in  antioxidants and nutrients, and since it is diuretic and anti-inflammatory in nature, it helps to cleanse our body organs and keeps them healthy. It helps to treat and cure of liver stones, gall bladder stones and kidney stones. Doctors advice that you should drink a lot of water to cleanse your organs, but drinking cardamom tea is even more beneficial as the diuretic properties flushed out the toxins more easily.

7. Sore Throat

A sore throat swells up the throat which irritates us when we eat or drink anything. Cardamom helps to reduce this swelling as it is an anti-inflammatory substance. The reduced swelling clears the throat and relieves pain and irritation. Just add some cardamom powder in warm water and gargle with you, twice a day. Or you can also consume cardamom tea 2-3 times a day to get relief from sore throat. It is also used to treat whooping cough and bronchitis. Boil a cup of water, add a teaspoon of cardamom powder to it and let it steep for 5-7 minutes. Strain and add one tablespoon of honey. Drink this tea 2-3 times a day to gain maximum benefits.

To know more benefits of this small but fragrant and flavorful spice, click here.