Cardamom is a spice that is used in the kitchen and is also a natural remedy to relieve digestive discomfort such as gas, bloating, and even bad breath. Now, a new study has found that its consumption provides dietary and health benefits, including increased appetite, fat loss, and reduced inflammation, making this plant a “superfood.”
The study’s principal investigator, Luis Cisneros-Zevallos, a professor of horticulture and food science in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and an affiliate scientist with the Institute for the Advancement of Health through Agriculture at Texas A&M AgriLife, has stated that this research study shows that cardamom could be a healthy dietary choice and that its consumption can help maintain lean body weight and reduce fat.
“Professor Cisneros-Zevallos’ research program is uncovering the fundamental basis of how various horticultural crops affect human health,” said Amit Dhingra, head of the Department of Horticultural Sciences. “This work aligns directly with our department’s focus on sustainability, wellness and food safety.” The findings have been published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
Cardamom could be included in nutritional and sports supplements
Cardamom is a spice with a combination of eucalyptus, mint and pepper flavor and aroma that is very popular in many parts of the world and the study findings should increase its popularity. “What we found is that this little spice can burn calories and maintain body weight while increasing appetite and food consumption,” Cisneros-Zevallos explained.
“Cardamom seeds can be used in different industries, including the sports industry, functional foods and dietary supplements”
To carry out the investigation, specimens of live animals were used, to which various doses of cardamom seeds were administered through their usual diet. The researchers found that cardamom increases appetite, but also increases energy expenditure and reduces fat mass, according to Cisneros-Zevallos. The results also confirmed that cardamom modulates neural circuits that regulate adipose tissue lipolysis and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in liver and skeletal muscle.
The researchers also estimated appropriate doses for humans: at least 77 milligrams of cardamom bioactives for an adult weighing around 130 pounds, a dose that could be obtained by consuming a minimum of eight to 10 cardamom pods every day.
Cisneros-Zevallos said other related studies have shown cardamom to have anti-inflammatory properties. Her research indicates that cardamom can reduce low-grade inflammation that can lead to chronic inflammation and the development of a variety of diseases.
“Our team has discovered an incredible opportunity to use cardamom as a general health promoter,” he said. “Cardamom seeds, with this new functionality, can be used in different industries, including the sports industry, functional foods and dietary supplements to support the production of healthier foods.”
Cisneros-Zevallos said that the research showed that cardamom consumption favored appetite and helped with weight loss, so he believes that this new functionality discovered in cardamom may be useful in the sports nutrition market, or as an aid to increase appetite in convalescent people.
This discovery is also excellent news for Guatemalan farmers, as today, there are more than 350,000 families in Guatemala working in the sustainable and environmentally friendly shade cultivation of cardamom in the tropical forest. “Cardamom is of great economic importance for Guatemala,” the researcher highlighted, adding that: “Expanding its use in the US and around the world could provide stability to farmers and help in the immigration crisis observed in recent years”.
