Cardamom steam distilled oil

Health Benefits

This spice may naturally help many common and serious health concerns. Here are some of the top potential cardamom health benefits:

1. Improves Bad Breath

Cardamom is a very effective remedy against a common problem known as halitosis, aka bad breath. Simply chewing on the seeds can help eliminate any bad odors coming from your mouth. Some chewing gums even include it as an ingredient for this very reason.

Recently, a study conducted by the Department of Microbiology at Kurukshetra University in India explored the antimicrobial effects of cardamom extracts on oral bacteria. Researchers concluded that the extracts are effective against oral pathogenic bacteria like Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans.

Additionally, the major active component of cardamom oil, cineole, is a potent antiseptic known for killing the bacteria causing bad breath and other infections.

2. Helps Treat Cavities

Not only can this spice kill the bacteria that causes bad breath, but it might also help prevent cavity development.

 It has all the cleansing benefits of a chewing gum but without any of the negatives (like stickiness)

Not only can it kill bacteria in your mouth, but with its somewhat sharp yet pleasant flavor, chewing cardamom can also encourage cleansing saliva flow while the fibrous outer coating of the pod can provide a mechanical cleaning of your teeth.

3. May Aid Cancer Treatment

This healing herb even shows promise when it comes to cancer, exhibiting potential as a natural cancer treatment. Animal studies have shown that it can be used as a chemopreventive agent or something that’s used to inhibit, delay or reverse cancer formation.

A 2012 study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food showed that it had a positive effect on skin health in animals. Researchers found that there was a significant reduction in the occurrence and number of tumors with oral administration of cardamom powder. The study concludes that cardamom has potential as a chemopreventive agent against two-stage skin cancer.

In general, phytochemicals found in this spice, including cineole and limonene, have shown an ability to take on a protective role against cancer progression.

4. Lowers Blood Pressure

Cardamom might be able to help you lower blood pressure.

 This is key to maintaining the health of your heart and kidneys.

A study conducted by the Indigenous Drug Research Center at RNT Medical College’s Department of Medicine in India and published in the Indian Journal of Biochemistry & Biophysics evaluated 20 newly diagnosed individuals with primary stage 1 hypertension and the effect of giving them three grams of cardamom powder daily in two divided doses for 12 weeks.

The results showed that not only did cardamom help decrease systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure, but it also increased total antioxidant status by 90 percent at the end of three months.

5. Helps Treat Diabetes

The high manganese content in this spice makes it an excellent choice for diabetics and anyone struggling with blood sugar issues. Research indicates that individuals diagnosed with diabetes have low blood levels of the trace mineral manganese.

It’s unclear if having diabetes causes levels to drop or if low levels of manganese contribute to developing diabetes. Either way, adding manganese to the diet is a smart idea for diabetics, which is why you should use this spice as part of your diabetic diet plan.

A clinical study found that diabetics who had greater manganese blood levels were more protected from “bad” LDL cholesterol than those with lower levels of manganese. All this together shows that this spice may be effective at combatting the onset of diabetes.

6. Supports the Digestive System

Cardamom is a traditional remedy in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of digestive issues like stomach aches, but there is also science to back this common usage.

An animal model study published in 2014 looked at the effects of hot water extracts of cardamom pods, turmeric and sembung leaf on gastric ulcers induced by aspirin on animal subjects. Throughout the study, animals were given the herbal mixture or another substance believed to be a protective agent followed by aspirin or they were just given aspirin.

The researchers found that the animals who received the herbal combination before aspirin administration exhibited fewer gastric ulcers in number, smaller areas of gastric ulcers as well as a lesser degree of stomach lining damage compared to the subjects in the aspirin group.

7. May Provide Asthma Relief

Cardamom may also provide relief for people struggling with breathing issues like asthma. One study using an animal model indicated that the spice exhibits bronchodilatory effects. That means it’s a substance that dilates the bronchi and bronchioles, decreasing resistance in the respiratory airway and increasing airflow to the lungs.

Basically, cardamom was shown to help make breathing easier, which of course is the main goal for anyone suffering from asthma or any shortness of breath.