Written by: Stefania Piccardo, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
In this article, we dive into another essential spice of Indian food: cardamom, a member of the ginger family.
Origins: Cardamom is often referred to as The Queen of Spices, and it is used extensively in Indian cuisine but it has also been adopted worldwide mostly in Scandinavian dishes. It originated in India but is available worldwide today and used in both sweet and savory recipes. Today it also grows in Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Indo China, and Tanzania.
History: It is quoted in Charaka Samhita, a Sanskrit text on Ayurveda, written between the 2nd century B.C.and the 2nd century A.D. It was then quoted in the 4th century B.C. in a Sanskrit manuscript regarding political affairs. The ancient Egyptians chewed cardamom seeds as a tooth cleaner; the Greeks and Romans used them as a perfume.
Health benefits: Alongside its fascinating origins, it has many properties and health benefits which are worth exploring.
The seeds, oils, and extracts of cardamom are thought to have impressive medicinal properties and have been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Cardamom has a complex flavor. It's citrusy, minty, spicy, and herbal all at the same time, and it's highly fragrant, too. Due to this, it's widely used in all sorts of dishes.
Here are some health benefits of cardamom, backed by science.
Its diuretic properties can lower blood pressure which makes it a natural detoxifier and is good for the skin.
It is rich in antioxidant compounds that can fight inflammation.
It is used to treat infections due to its antibacterial effects
Compounds in cardamom can help increase airflow to your lungs and improve breathing.
Cardamom extract can decrease elevated liver enzymes, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels.
It can be used to improve anxiety as it rebalances low blood levels of antioxidants, which have been linked to the development of anxiety and other mood disorders.
It is believed that it helps with weight loss due to its diuretic properties.
Its cooling effect and antibacterial properties improve digestion and work on gastrointestinal issues
Some compounds contained in cardamom can help fight some types of cancer
Interesting facts: Cardamom offers an interesting twist to your usual cup of tea, with its refreshing aroma and minty notes. It can also be used by infusing the seeds or cardamom pods in hot water. The tea often features notes of apple and is consumed alongside sweet dishes. It is a great option as a winter warmer and keeps at bay all the bugs as its vitamins and minerals boost our immune system. Cardamom is also used in cakes, buns, and sweets. Go ahead and enjoy!
Did you know? Cardamom features regularly in the Arabian Nights as the Arabs credited this spice with aphrodisiac properties and the ancient Indians regarded it as a cure for obesity. It has been used as a digestive since ancient times.
Disclaimer: The information provided has been well researched and written from many sources available online and the views provided are not of Namaste Delhi. Namaste Delhi does not take any responsibility for any technical error in the article. Moreover, this article is purely informative and does not intend to replace and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. The information expressed in this article has no relation to those of any academic, hospital, health practice, or other institution.
Stefania Piccardo, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Stefania Piccardo obtained her PhD in English language and literature from La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. During her academic years, she worked for Scottish distilleries and castles as a tour guide in multiple languages. Her love for Scotland brought her back to Aberdeen in 2003, where she obtained an MSc in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs from Robert Gordon University.
She then worked for multiple organizations but soon realized that she wanted to teach languages privately to the corporate level. Stefania has helped many students achieve the best grades in school and university but most of all she has the ambition to train corporate employees who deal with import/export, and foreign trade, or want to develop their careers and expand their horizons for more opportunities in Europe and beyond. She speaks four languages including Italian, her mother tongue, English, French and Spanish and she has founded Language tutor4U back in 2012.
In addition to her teaching schedule, she works as a PR/Marketing manager for Namaste Delhi, the innovative and traditional Indian restaurant she owns along with her husband in Aberdeen City center since 2018. As a keen writer, she also enjoys feeding social media posts and writing for her blogs about Italian and Indian cultures, languages, and much more!
