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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. |