Everybody knows that black pepper is the King of spices. But do you know which spice is regarded as the Queen of spices? Well, it is cardamom. It is a capsule shaped fruit and has a number of aromatic seeds encased in a pod. It belongs to the plant Elettaria and genus Amomum. It is a member of the Ginger family. It is extensively cultivated in India, Bhutan and Nepal. It is an unavoidable ingredient in many of the dishes prepared in India. It is called elaichi in Hindi. Presently Guatemala is the largest producer of cardamom. It has got medicinal values as well. Two common forms of cardamom that are available are green cardamom and black or brown cardamom.
Brown cardamom is larger than the green cardamom and has its own unique properties. The pods of brown cardamom are dried over heated flames before they are sold in the market. This process provides a smoky flavor and a rich aroma to brown cardamom, which makes it very popular with the consumers. This is very much in demand for Indo Asian and African cooking. Brown cardamom is full of essential nutrients needed for the body, fiber and oils. These impart medicinal properties to this spice. As a result, brow cardamom is beneficial for curing various diseases as well as preventing many ailments. So, consuming it makes you healthier and fit. The strong fragrance of this spice makes it one of the best choices for aromatherapy.
Benefits of Brown Cardamom for Skin:
Leaves you with flawless and healthy skin:
Brown cardamom is a good source of antioxidants like Vitamin C and also minerals like potassium. These elements help in flushing out all toxins ad thus detoxify your body and increase the circulation of blood in the body. This spice also protects your skin from the harmful attacks of the free radicals in the body and helps in providing a healthy skin that is free from any blemishes. The nutrients and essential oils in this spice revitalize and rejuvenate your skin, so that your skin looks young and fresh with a smooth texture. This is also good for preventing skin allergies, because of its antibacterial and antiviral properties. Brown cardamom is a rich source of phytonutrients that helps in increasing the elasticity of the skin. As a result, you get a better skin that is evenly toned, radiant and young looking.
Benefits of Brown Cardamom for Hair:
Ideal solution for strong and shiny tresses:
Brown cardamom contains vitamins and antioxidants in high amounts. This helps in increasing the circulation of blood in the scalp and thus ensures that the scalp is provided with all essential nutrients that are needed for the healthy growth of hair. These nutrients make the hair follicles strong and thus each strand of hair grows strong and healthy. As a result, you get thick and strong hair, which is shiny and beautiful. Brown cardamom also has antibacterial properties, which protect the scalp from various infections of the scalp. So, consuming this spice helps in treating infections and irritations of the scalp and makes sure that you have a healthy hair.
Health and Medicinal Benefits of Brown Cardamom:
Boost Immunity and Prevent Infection:
Brown cardamom has antibacterial and antiviral properties, which makes it effective for preventing various infections caused by virus, bacteria, fungi and other micro-organisms. This helps in improving the immunity of the body and provides you a strong immune system.
Cure respiratory and pulmonary vascular disease:
People suffering from respiratory diseases like pulmonary tuberculosis, asthma, congestion of the lungs, bronchitis and so on benefit a lot by including this spice in their regular diet. Brown cardamom has a warming effect on the respiratory tracts and this makes it easy for the circulation of the air through the lungs and also improves air circulation in the respiratory tract. It is also a good remedy for coughs, cold, flu, sore throat etc. This spice contains diuretic fiber and potassium and thus helps in lowering high blood pressure and preventing strokes, heart attacks, blood clotting and other problems of the cardiovascular system.
Cures intestinal diseases and improves detoxification:
Brown cardamom is a good remedy for curing various problems of the stomach. You can cure dysentery, indigestion, constipation and other digestive disorders by consuming brown cardamom. It increases the secretion of saliva and stimulates the nervous system, thus improving the digestive process. It also has many qualities of ginger and therefore it is good for treating nausea, stomach cramps, loss of appetite, acidity, gastroenteritis, heartburns and so on. Being a good diuretic, it helps n improving urination and ensures renal health. Consuming brown cardamom is beneficial for flushing out all toxins from the body and to decrease the harmful effects of alkaloids. So, it detoxifies your body completely and ensures that you remain healthy.
Ensures optimal oral health:
If you are worried about bad breath and halotosis, chew this spice. This will help you get rid of bad breath with its strong aroma. It is also used for treating dental problems like ulcers of the mouth and infections of the tooth and gums. So, this spice ensures good oral health in people who consume it.
Protects from headaches and inflammations:
The essential oils present in brown cardamom act as good sedatives or anesthetics, and therefore ideal for curing stress, severe headaches and fatigue. It contains polynutrients and essential oils that are beneficial for making the body withstand against the attacks of asthma and other inflammations.
Prevents cancer:
Brown cardamom has anti-carcinogenic properties and therefore it is very effective for preventing cancers of the breast, prostate, colon and ovary. It increases the levels of the antioxidant glutathione, which has the ability to check the growth of cancer cells in the body.