Cardamom is widely grown in the tropics especially in Southern India, Srilanka and the East Asian countries. it is scientifically called as Ellettaria cardamomum and is used as an herbal spice due to its strong aroma and flavor. Cardamom is used in the form of seeds, powder and essential oils. This spice is one of the costliest next only to saffron and is found in Southern India. The flavored seed is used extensively in cooking especially sweet meats and of course who can forget the cardamom tea?
Cardamom is rich in calcium, phosphorous, Iron and Vitamins. According to Ayurveda, traditional Indian medicinal system, Cardamom is a stimulant and eases digestion. I remember chewing cardamom after eating a sumptuous lunch. It is supposed to prevent stomach cramps and improve the digestion. It also removes flatulence and gas.
Have you ever wondered why people chew cardamom after eating fish or meat? Yes, to get rid of that bad breath which lingers even after a thorough brushing. Cardamom not only dispels that bad mouth odor but also strengthens gums and teeth improving oral health.
Cardamom also cleanses and detoxifies your system. It gives warmth to the body and is used during the cold winter months in your morning cup of tea. It also prevents those viral attacks thus preventing those common colds during the really cold months. It is also given to asthmatic to alleviate their symptoms.
My mother used to carry cardamom and lemon for long bus journeys to prevent those nauseous traveling sickness. It is said to prevent nausea and is also a good mood lifter. Cardamom improves appetite and is a must for those convalescing to get back their energy. Just as it prevents that foul smell from your oral cavity, Cardamom prevents that pesky mouth ulcers. Try curd spiked with ground cardamom or nutmeg to get that ulcers off their roots. It also helps to prevent diarrhea if given in very small quantities in children.
Cardamom is used to treat fevers, spasms and even liver disorders. There is no much scientific research pointing to this but it can be tried as it has no side effects. Some south East Asian countries use cardamom for allergies and bites. Cardamom has a detoxifying effect and its antimicrobial action helps in controlling worm infestation in children. It is used to cleanse the kidneys and is said to prevent urinary tract infection.
Cardamom oil is a great cleanser and detoxifies the system. If used in your skin care routine along with rose water, it keeps the skin hydrated and supple. Last but not the least, cardamom is a great Aphrodisiac. It is said to cure erectile dysfunctions, loss of libido and sexual weakness.
Cardamom can be procured in the powdered form from the market. But it is better to buy the pods and grind it manually using a pestle and a mortar to preserve the flavor. Just remove the pods and grind the seeds, you can use the pods for flavoring your tea. But a word of caution, do not use cardamom in excess as it may cause stomach ailments and vomiting. Try using your cardamom in your tea, buttermilk, sweet meats and daily cooking to improve the taste and to get those health benefits.
Posts Tagged ‘Indigestion’
Benefits of Cardamom – a spice that can benefit your health
August 9th, 2010How to treat indigestion during pregnancy ?
February 1st, 2010Pregnancy brings about a lot of changes in a woman’s body. The first trimester can bring nausea and sometimes vomiting. By the time the second trimester rolls around, the woman is feeling much better. Then as she is ready to enter her third and final trimester, she begins to get indigestion. This is quite common, but very uncomfortable. Indigestion can even go on so long that you can’t sleep at night. There are things women can do to remedy the discomfort.
Causes of indigestion during pregnancy :
One of the chief culprits behind heartburn and other digestive problems is the hormone progesterone. Progesterone decreases your muscle tone and can relax the muscles of the stomach to slow the emptying time.
The stomach also gets pushed up so much during the last trimester that it sits much higher than normal and food contents can be pushed up into your esophagus. When this happens, the valve allows food particles or stomach acid to sit in your esophagus. This can cause heartburn and indigestion.
What you can do to treat Indigestion during pregnancy ?
- Drink plenty of water.
- Add fiber to your diet : The recommended amount of fiber in an adult diet is 25-35 grams per day. If you are pregnant, you might benefit from adding another 15% (or 3-5 grams) per day. Foods that are rich in fiber include whole grains, popcorn, and raw vegetables.
- Walk, Don’t Talk : Pregnant women are often advised to take a walk right after their meals. Also, they must eat five or six small meals each day, instead of three large ones; that way the amount of pressure put on the stomach to digest the food is decreased.
- Peppermint : It is available quite easily and is an excellent cure for indigestion and causes no side effects on either you or your child. So when you feel like you may get another bout of indigestion, make yourself a cup of peppermint tea.
- Avoid eating or drinking things that encourage the valve in the esophagus to relax further. These include greasy or fatty foods, chocolate, caffeine, carbonated drinks, tomato products, citrus juice, peppermint and spearmint, alcohol, onion, garlic, and spicy foods.
- Sit up straight while eating.
- Reduce your stress level by taking time out for something you enjoy, such as a warm bath, a good book, or a chat with a friend.
- Commit to not smoking or drinking alcohol.
- Raise the head of your bed by placing wooden wedges under the legs.
- Talk with your doctor about which antacids are safe during pregnancy, such as calcium carbonate (Tums).
How to treat indigestion ?
January 29th, 2010Indigestion is not a distinct condition, but it may be a sign of an underlying intestinal disorder such as peptic ulcer or gallbladder disease.
Indigestion, also known as upset stomach or dyspepsia, is a painful or burning feeling in the upper abdomen.
Indigestion can be caused by stress, consumption of certain foods or a combination of the two. While there are over-the-counter medications that treat this condition, numerous natural remedies are also effective at lessening the effects of indigestion. They can even prevent the condition from occurring at all.
Symptoms :
- Burning in the stomach or upper abdomen.
- Heartburn
- Abdominal pain, bloating (full feeling), belching and gas, nausea, vomiting, acidic taste, “growling” stomach, and sometimes diarrhea.
Causes :
- A disease or an ulcer in the digestive tract might cause indigestion.
- For most people, it is the result of eating too much, eating too fast, eating high-fat foods, or eating during stressful situations. Indigestion is not caused by excess stomach acid.
- Being tired or stressed, smoking, or drinking too much alcohol or caffeinated beverages can cause indigestion or make it worse.
Sometimes people have persistent indigestion that is not related to any of these factors. This type of indigestion is called functional, or non-ulcer, and is caused by a problem associated with how food moves through the digestive tract.
Treatment :
- Combine 1 tbsp. of ginger and lemon juice with 2 tbsp. of honey in 8 cups of warm water. Mix these ingredients for several minutes until they are adequately joined. Consume this mixture when you begin to feel the effects of indigestion.
- Green tea and herbal tea are very effective in improving digestion.
- Eat 10 to 20 grapes whenever you experience any type of digestion issue. Grapes are very good at relieving indigestion, as well as an upset stomach.
- Add 1 tbsp. of cinnamon to 8 oz.. of cold water, then mix thoroughly. Drink this mixture 1 hour after you have eaten to prevent or relieve indigestion, as well as flatulence.
- Drink 4 oz. of pineapple juice after each meal to prevent any type of digestion problem, including belching, flatulence or bloating. If you experiencing these problems, consume the drink each day, after every meal, until your indigestion has subsided.
- Avoid eating junk food during indigestion. Foods like fizzy
drinks, caffeinated drinks, garlic, alcohol, acid fruits, chocolate, and
tomatoes/tomato products can give you heartburn and indigestion.
- Start taking diet rich in green leafy vegetables.
- Eat small meals so the stomach does not have to work as hard or as long.
- Eat slowly.
- Caffeine causes the stomach to produce more acid, so reduce or avoid foods and beverages that contain caffeine.
- If stress is a trigger for your indigestion, reevaluating your lifestyle may help to reduce stress. Learn new methods for managing stress, such as relaxation and biofeedback techniques.
- Smokers should consider quitting smoking, or at least not smoking right before eating, as smoking can irritate the stomach lining.
- Avoid wearing tight-fitting garments because they tend to compress the stomach, which can cause its contents to enter the esophagus.
- Do not exercise with a full stomach. Rather, exercise before a meal or at least one hour after eating a meal.
- Do not lie down right after eating.
