Elaichi (Cardamom) Bold

Cardamom is the king of spices. It is native to forests of the western ghats in southern India.  Today it also grows in Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Indo China, and Tanzania. Cardamom is taken orally to improve digestion. People chew it after the food. Great for cold and cough. Cardamom or Elaichi is a flavour enhancer for milk or badam milk. Cardamom is used to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Cardamom is an aromatic seed pod (herb) used in many Indian preparations. It lends a distinct aroma and a sweet flavor. which makes the dish almost intriguing. Not just this, cardamoms are also prized for their health benefits and healing qualities. According to Ayurveda  "Cardamom is often used as a flavoring agent and comes under the category of aromatic plants. The small cardamom or Choti Elaichi is often used in Ayurvedic medicines that enhance physical strength." 

Cardamom is an expensive spice, second only to saffron.It is often adulterated and there are many inferior substitutes from cardamom-related plants, such as Siam cardamom, Nepal cardamom, winged Java cardamom, and bastard cardamom. However, it is only Elettaria cardamomum which is the true cardamom. Indian cardamom is known in two main varieties: Malabar cardamom and Mysore cardamom. The Mysore variety contains higher levels of cineol and limonene and hence is more aromatic

Benefits

Health benefits of Cardamom (Choti elaichi) :-

Great for cough and cold: "Cardamom is packed with antioxidants. There are two kinds of cardamoms, green and black. Black cardamoms help in curing colds and cough and certain respiratory problems" shares Bangalore-based Nutritionist, Dr. Anju Sood. Steep some pods in water along with honey and drink this cardamom tea as an effective natural remedy for flu. It imparts warmth to the body. 

 Improves Digestion: Due to its strong aroma, it helps in activating our taste and sensory elements and thus, aid digestion. "This enables the secretion of enzymes effective for digestion especially if consumed after heavy meals," says Dr. Tyagi. Cardamom is good for curing stomach problems like indigestion gas and constipation. Cardamom contains chemicals that are known to help increase the movement of food through the intestine.

Improves Oral Health: Cardamom possesses antimicrobial properties that help enhance oral health. According to the European Journal of General Dentistry, cardamom can protect against oral pathogens like Streptococci mutans. The pungent taste of cardamom even stimulates the salivary flow – and this can help prevent dental caries.

Cardamom can also work well in treating bad breath. Especially when you take a mixture of spices, including the seeds of anise, cardamom, and fennel – bad breath wouldn’t be a problem anymore