Elaichi or cardamom is one of the most common spices seen in an Indian household. Not only does it add sweet taste and unique flavour to your dishes, it is also widely used as a natural mouth freshener. But the humble green pod has a lot more to offer – health wise. Here are the top eight reasons why elaichi scores high in the list of healthy spices.
1. Improves digestion
Ever wonder why elaichi is a staple addition to saunf after meal? Well, that is because elaichi is carminative in nature and helps speed up digestion. It also reduces inflammation of the stomach lining, fights heartburn and nausea. Another added advantage of this spice is that it soothes the mucous membrane, making it function better thereby relieving the symptoms of acidity and an upset stomach. Moreover, according to Ayurvedic texts it also reduces the air content in the stomach, making it more capable of digesting food efficiently.
Tip: Take a two to three pods of cardamom, a small piece of ginger, 2- 3 cloves and few dhania (coriander) seeds. Grind them well and consume it with warm water. It acts as an instant remedy for indigestion, bloating and gas.
2. Beats bad breath
If you have bad breath and have tried every sort of remedy out there, give elaichi a try. The spice is packed with antibacterial properties, in addition to having a strong flavour and a pleasant smell. Moreover, since it helps improve your digestive system – which is known to be one of the leading causes of bad breath – it is very effective in weeding out the root cause of the problem.
Tip: Chew on a pod of elaichi after every meal. You could alternatively drink some elaichi tea every morning to help detoxify and strengthen your digestive system thereby preventing bad breath. Here are top seven ways to fight bad breath
3. Relieves acidity
The essential oils in elaichi strengthen the mucosal lining of the stomach and also increase the amount of saliva you secrete. When you chew the pod, it releases a slew of essential oils that stimulate your salivary glands which in turn stimulates your stomach lining to work better. It also improves your appetite and reduces the amount of acidity you experience by imparting a cooling sensation to reduce the burning you feel during an attack of acidity.
Tip: The best way to keep acidity at bay is to avoid sitting right after you have eating; instead walk around a bit while chewing on the elaichi pod and you should feel much better. To further improve your condition, here are six foods you can eat to keep acidity at bay.
4. Alleviates symptoms of respiratory illnesses
Cardamom increases circulation of blood within your lungs thereby aiding in relieving the symptoms of breathing problems like asthma, cold and cough. In Ayurveda, elaichi is known as a warm spice, which heats up the body internally, helping in the expulsion of phlegm and relieving chest congestion.
Tip: If you have a cold, cough or a congested chest, elaichi is the best natural remedy to relieve the symptoms. All you need to do is add few drops of elaichi essential oil to boiling water and use this for steam inhalation.
5. Regularises your heart rate
Packed with minerals like potassium, calcium and magnesium, cardamom is a gold mine for essential electrolytes. One of the main components of your blood, body fluids and cells is potassium. With its abundant supply of this essential mineral ealichi helps regularise your heart rate and keeps your blood pressure under control. Before to get to the solution, here are five causes of increase heart rate or tachycardia you should be aware of.
Tip: Add elaichi to your daily meals or simply drink elaichi tea to reap its heart-healthy benefits.
6. Fights anaemia
Another major component of elaichi is copper, iron and essential vitamins like riboflavin, vitamin C and niacin. Known for its immense importance in the production of red blood cells and cellular metabolism, copper, riboflavin, vitamin C and niacin in addition to iron are great to fight anaemia and relieve the symptoms that one experiences due to the condition.
Tip: Add a pinch or two of elaichi powder and turmeric to a glass of warm milk. You can add a little sugar for taste (if you like). Drink this every night to help relieve weakness and other symptoms of anaemia.
7. Detoxifies the body and fight free radicals
Cardamom is a great source of manganese, a mineral which plays a key role in the production of an enzyme that scavenges and destroys free radicals. Apart from that, elaichi also has very strong detoxifying properties that help to cleanse the body and protect it from cancer and other allied diseases.
Tip: To help detoxify your body, try this Ayurvedic detox diet. Alternatively, you could add elaichi to your daily meal and tea to reap its benefits.
8. Improves your sex life
Not many people know that elaichi in reality acts as a potent tonic and stimulant. It not only helps to strengthen the body but also works wonders in treating sexual dysfunctions like premature ejaculation and impotency. Additionally, it also helps you feel energetic and last longer in bed. Here are some of the home remedies you can try to boost your sex life.
Tip: Cardamom tea might do the trick for you. All you need to do is infuse it into some regular green tea and drink it while it’s warm. This mixture works well right at the onset of the symptoms of indigestion. It also acts as a powerful home remedy for headaches.
Dr Sandeep Jadhav Kalwa Thane
