Cultures around the world have used cardamom for centuries to treat illnesses and flavor dishes. The spice comes from the seeds of several plants in the ginger family and has a minty flavor with hints of cinnamon.
Due to its unique flavor, cardamom is a popular ingredient in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines. Native to southern India, it is considered by historians to be one of the oldest spices in the world, dating back around 4,000 years.
The Greeks, Romans and even the ancient Egyptians relied on this spice for medicinal and culinary purposes. Some chewed cardamom pods to keep their breath fresh and their teeth clean. Greeks and Romans also created perfumes and essential oils with this aromatic spice. While people often use cardamom in curries, desserts and other foods, it is also popular in drinks like chai tea and coffee.
If you’ve never tried cardamom tea, you might want to after reading about its many health benefits. Not to mention, the warm, comforting aroma of the spice can help you unwind after a stressful day. Keep reading to find out why you should consider drinking this delicious tea.
Here’s Why You Should Drink More Cardamom Tea
1. Cardamom contains anti-inflammatory properties.
The root cause of many chronic illnesses comes from high levels of inflammation. While acute inflammation can help fight infections and heal wounds, prolonged inflammation weakens the immune system. Fortunately, the spice contains several compounds with anti-inflammatory effects. For example, the herb is rich in antioxidants that help prevent disease and fight free radical damage.
A study with rats confirmed that taking 23-46 mg of cardamom extract per kilogram of body weight suppressed the production of four different inflammatory compounds. A human study also found that taking cardamom supplements can improve antioxidant activity by 90%. Participants had lower blood pressure and also a lower risk of developing blood clots.
2. It can help alleviate digestive issues, including bloating.
If you have IBS or other gastrointestinal disorders, you know firsthand how uncomfortable and painful they can be. However, drinking cardamom tea can alleviate some of the discomfort caused by poor digestion. Cultures around the world have used this powerful spice to treat indigestion for thousands of years. Research shows that it can ease common stomach issues like bloating, gas, nausea, and ulcers.
On a recent study, researchers administered high doses of aspirin to rats to cause stomach ulcers. Then they fed the mice extracts of cardamom, turmeric and sembung leaves in hot water. Animals given the spice mix had fewer stomach ulcers than those given aspirin alone.
Other study with rats produced similar results, finding that cardamom extract can inhibit or reduce the size of stomach ulcers by 50%. Doses of 5.7 mg per kilogram of body weight have been shown to be more effective than drugs in treating gastrointestinal ulcers.
3. Cardamom can improve blood sugar levels.
If you have high blood sugar levels, consider drinking cardamom tea to improve them. In one animal study, researchers fed mice a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet and gave some animals powdered cardamom. The team found that the mice given the spice had lower blood sugar, cholesterol and body weight than the other group.
A human study also revealed that participants with type 2 diabetes who ate green cardamom had lower levels of insulin, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), triglycerides and cholesterol after ten weeks.
4. Spice can help you lose weight.
While weight loss is not one of the main benefits of consuming this spice, it can help you achieve your fitness goals. A to study of 80 overweight and obese pre-diabetic women found that cardamom supplementation significantly reduced waist circumference. The researchers believe that the anti-inflammatory effect of the spice may have facilitated fluid retention, which may help with weight loss.
5. It can improve breathing and increase oxygen levels.
There is nothing more important than breathing to ensure our survival. However, we often forget the importance of breathing slowly and deeply in our busy lives. If you struggle to calm your breath, cardamom can cure your ailment. A to study in rats and rabbits found that cardamom extract can increase airflow from the lungs. People with asthma can benefit from this as it relaxes the throat and improves oxygen levels.
If you feel short of breath during training, the seasoning can also help you in this case. In a study, researchers asked participants to inhale cardamom essential oil for one minute before walking on a treadmill. The group appeared to respond positively to the stimulating smell because it had greater oxygen availability than the control group.
6. Cardamom contains cancer-fighting phytochemicals.
This potent spice contains many antioxidants and other cancer-preventing compounds. On a test tube study of human cells, researchers found that certain compounds in cardamom prevented oral cancer cells from spreading. However, more research is needed to determine the spice’s effectiveness in treating or preventing cancer. It can fight infections due to antibacterial and antifungal compounds.
If you get sick often, add cardamom tea to your home remedies. The investigation shows that the spice contains potent compounds that fight common strains of bacteria such as E.Coli Staphylococcus and Salmonella. All of these bacteria can cause food poisoning, a common illness in the modern world. However, researchers have found that cardamom extracts and essential oils treat this condition more effectively than medications in some cases.
Other test tube study found that cardamom spice extracts can inhibit drug-resistant strains of Candida, a yeast that can trigger yeast infections.
However, you should not ingest essential oils directly and consult your doctor before taking supplements. Cardamom can interact with certain medications or cause side effects in some cases. But most people can safely drink cardamom tea by steeping the seeds in hot water.
Quick and easy cardamom tea recipe
Now that you know how healthy this tea can be, here’s how you can make and enjoy a quick cup:
Ingredients:
- two glasses of water
- Two teaspoons of loose black tea leaves or two tea bags
- Four to six cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- One or two teaspoons of honey (optional)
- 1/4 cup milk (optional)
Instructions:
- Boil two cups of water in a small pot.
- Add lightly crushed cardamom pods to boiling water.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for five to seven minutes to allow the cardamom flavor to infuse into the water. (Less time will taste milder).
- Add two teaspoons of black tea leaves or two tea bags to the pot and steep for three to five minutes.
- If you prefer sweetened tea, add a few teaspoons of honey to the pot and stir until dissolved.
- If you like your tea creamy, add 1/4 cup milk to the pot and stir until heated through.
- Strain the tea into your teapot or cup and enjoy your delicious cardamom tea!
Observation: You can adjust the amount of cardamom and honey to your liking. You can also use other tea leaves such as green or Darjeeling tea.
Final thoughts on the benefits of cardamom tea
If you’ve never tried cardamom tea, you might want to do so for its physical and mental benefits. Studies show that it can lower blood sugar, improve breathing, reduce inflammation and inhibit tumor growth. It can also help with weight loss and bacterial infections. Plus, it tastes delicious and can comfort you after a stressful day.
