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Cardamom - beneficial properties and use for weight loss
Cardamom is a spice, a plant from the ginger family. Like most other spices, it was brought to us from India. There are three main varieties of cardamom - green, black and white. Green is the most useful. In ancient times, cardamom was very popular in folk medicine in many countries; it was considered a panacea and was used to treat many diseases - from rheumatism to paralysis.

Currently, this wonderful spice is used as a seasoning, baked goods are prepared with it, and drinks are brewed. Coffee with cardamom has long been a hallmark of Arab countries, the aroma of oriental hospitality.

The use of cardamom as a food additive is completely justified - it contains a lot of dietary fiber, vitamin C, and microelements (calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, copper). Due to the content of these substances, it is used as an anti-cold and immunostimulating agent, as a strong natural antioxidant.

Properties of cardamom

Antiseptic;
Carminative;
Diuretic;
General strengthening;
Improves digestion;
Increases sexual activity (aphrodisiac);
Raises vitality;
Stimulates brain function;
Relieves headaches.

Contraindications

Stomach and duodenal ulcers;
Gastritis;
Individual intolerance to cardamom;
Allergy;
Breast-feeding;
Pregnancy.

Beneficial properties of cardamom

This spice, like many other spices, came to Europe and Russia from India. The seasoning is one of the representatives of the ginger family. Cardamom is also one of the most expensive and healthy spices. This oriental spice has found application in a variety of fields - medicine, perfumery, cooking and even dietetics.

Nutritional value of cardamom

This spice contains a large number of useful substances, including vitamins, minerals and essential oils. Due to the high content of all these healing components, cardamom is able to have a beneficial effect on the body. The list of its beneficial properties is impressive in its diversity:

If you consume the seeds of this plant, you can relieve nervous tension and improve brain activity.
Cardamom can lift your spirits. This is because this plant is a natural antidepressant.
This oriental seasoning fights pathogenic microbes. Therefore, it is often found in medications.
Cardamom seeds have another beneficial property for well-being - they normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the seasoning helps get rid of bloating and heartburn. It also effectively fights nausea.
Oriental spice can fight inflammation of the kidneys and bladder. In addition, it has an analgesic effect, that is, it reduces pain.
Cardamom can easily invigorate. This is because it has a tonic effect; it is not for nothing that it is added to many special drinks that athletes love so much.
The seasoning helps in the fight against obesity. It is an indispensable participant in metabolic processes and accelerates them. This is why cardamom is popular among those who want to lose weight. After all, with its help, the food consumed is absorbed much faster.
The essential oils present in oriental spices have a strong effect on the taste buds. If you regularly season your food with cardamom, you can significantly reduce your cravings for sweets.
Also useful for weight loss is the ability of the spice to reduce appetite. This leads to the fact that a person begins to reduce the usual portions, which has a positive effect on the figure.
If cardamom is consumed simultaneously with cinnamon, it can reduce blood cholesterol levels.
Thanks to the fiber contained in the spice, the body is cleansed of accumulated toxins.

We recommend reading about turmeric for weight loss. You will learn about the properties of turmeric, its benefits and harm to the body, contraindications, recipes for dishes with turmeric. And here is more information about the bardakosh herb for weight loss.

Reviews

Irina, 35 years old, Vladivostok: “After giving birth, I tried for a long time and unsuccessfully to get rid of excess weight. She did everything she could: she was actively involved in sports and went on diets. My problem was that I could not control my hunger, I constantly wanted to eat. As soon as I started drinking cardamom tea regularly and adding it to all my dishes, my appetite returned to normal. Positive results from sports and diet immediately began to appear.”

Mira, 31 years old, Astrakhan: “After I once managed to lose 20 kg, I began to fear that I would gain weight again. Accordingly, due to nervousness, it began to increase. I started using cardamom. My mornings started with coffee with cardamom and cinnamon, during the day I drank tea and sprinkled the spice into all my dishes. I have been maintaining my weight for many months now, despite the fact that sometimes I make small allowances in my diet.”

Irina, 27 years old, Perm: “I am prone to being overweight, and every bun is immediately deposited on my sides and stomach. Sports don't really help because I can't control my appetite. As soon as I manage to lose weight, a breakdown in eating inevitably follows, and I begin to gain weight again. On the advice of a nutritionist, I started drinking tea with cardamom. As a result, my appetite decreased, I had the energy to exercise, and I lost almost 5 kg in 2 weeks.”

Contraindications

Oriental spice is not suitable for all people. Cardamom is not recommended for consumption by those with the following diseases:

stomach ulcer;
individual intolerance to the substances contained in this spice;
frequent headaches;
high blood pressure;
susceptibility to nervous excitement;
allergies to seasoning and products with similar chemical composition.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also avoid the seasoning.

Golden rules of the cardamom diet

Rule 1

Having chosen a cardamom diet, you should not give up benefits that do not contain this spice, so that later you do not have to deal with the disastrous consequences of vitamin deficiency.

It is enough to taboo everything fatty, as well as pickles and smoked foods and, of course, leave cakes and other sweets until better times.

Rule 2

Diet without exercise is a wasted effort. If it is not possible to go to the gym every day, you should at least introduce the rule of returning from work on foot, and when you come home, instead of dinner, treat yourself to fat-burning tea with a strong cardamom flavor.

Below are several simple recipes for such a healing drink.

How to use

There are no serious restrictions on the use of cardamom. It can be added to drinks or food daily. But it is also not recommended to abuse it; the optimal daily dose is half a teaspoon, maximum a whole one. Since the seeds have a powerful tonic effect, you should not greatly exaggerate the daily intake.

Usually people don't tend to add too much of this seasoning to their food. After all, it has a special taste and aroma, which in small quantities adds piquancy to the dish, but in large quantities it only spoils and interrupts the entire taste.

Black and green cardamom

To lose weight with cardamom, you need to consume it regularly. Only then will this oriental spice reveal all its beneficial properties and actively fight for a slim waist.

Recipes with cardamom

Drinks and dishes with this spice can diversify the diet of those who are struggling with excess weight. To prepare something for weight loss, you just need to add cardamom to your usual menu.

Tea

This is one of the most popular drinks that people drink almost every day. Tea can easily be used for weight loss; you just need to season it with oriental spices.

To brew a drink with cardamom you need:

green tea – two teaspoons;
boiling water - half a liter;
cardamom - half a teaspoon.

It is best to use a thermos. Add tea and seasoning and pour boiling water over it. The resulting spicy drink should be allowed to brew for at least an hour. You can drink this tea throughout the day, but half an hour before meals. It is recommended to drink at least three cups per day, only this amount of drink allows you to lose weight faster.

There is another option for making cardamom tea. It will require the following ingredients:

half a teaspoon of spice;
cinnamon - two sticks;
black pepper - three or four peas;
two liters of clean water;
tea - four teaspoons;
a small slice of ginger.

Place everything except the tea leaves in a saucepan, add water, and bring to a boil. Keep on fire for another five minutes. Then add tea to the resulting drink, cover and let it brew. The decoction for weight loss is ready for use. If desired, you can add a couple of small spoons of honey for sweetness.

Cocktail, lemonade

You don't have to use hot drinks to lose weight. Some prefer cooler options - cocktails and lemonades. You can also add cardamom to them without any problems.

To prepare a refreshing cocktail, you need to take:

juice of one lemon;
cardamom - teaspoon;
boiling water - one and a half liters.

Take a saucepan, add the ingredients and add water, mix well. Let it brew for a while. When the drink has cooled down, you can sweeten it with a spoon of honey. Those who wish can also add a couple of crushed mint leaves there.

Another option for a cool drink with spice is lemonade. To prepare it, you need to stock up on the following ingredients:

juice of one lemon;
a teaspoon of seasoning;
boiled water – 1.5 liters;
a couple of mint leaves;
half a teaspoon of sweetener - stevia.

Mix everything, add water. Then you need to let the resulting drink cool on its own. If the lemonade doesn't seem cold enough, you can throw a couple of ice cubes into the glass.

Coffee

On the shelves of both regular and specialized stores you can easily find this drink, which contains cardamom. But you don’t have to buy ready-made coffee; you can grind and brew it at home yourself.

For the first option of a weight loss drink you need to purchase:

any natural ground coffee - a tablespoon;
oriental seasoning - half a teaspoon.

A thermos is best for brewing. You need to pour coffee and cardamom into it, add 400 milliliters of freshly boiled water. But it is not recommended to drink the drink right away; you need to let it brew overnight. And at breakfast you can treat yourself to spicy coffee.

The second option is prepared from the following ingredients:

a teaspoon of cardamom;
half the same dose of cinnamon;
two thirds of a tablespoon of ground coffee beans.

Turka is used to prepare this version of the drink. Add all the ingredients to it, add cold water, and put on fire. When the contents begin to boil, remove the Turk for half a minute, then return it to the stove. Now you need to wait until the foam starts to rise, only then completely remove from the heat. This drink helps improve digestion and speeds up metabolic processes. And this, as we know, leads to weight loss.

Women who have already tried to lose weight with coffee note that a drink made from green beans with cardamom is especially effective. This is because in the absence of heat treatment, the product retains its beneficial properties in their maximum concentration, therefore it better promotes the breakdown of fats. At the same time, it is better to prepare green coffee not in a Turkish coffee pot, but to brew it in a thermos. For this you will need:

a teaspoon of cardamom;
two or three small peppermint leaves;
green coffee beans - two tablespoons;
oregano - to taste.

Grind the beans. A meat grinder is best suited for this, since a coffee grinder may not “pull” such grains due to their plasticity. Place all ingredients in a thermos, add hot water, but not boiling water, but at a temperature of 95 degrees. Let the resulting drink brew overnight. Before drinking the coffee, you can strain it a little and drink it in small portions of 150 milliliters.

To learn how to make coffee with cardamom, watch this video:

Reviews

Dishes and seasonings for them

You can also use cardamom as a food seasoning for weight loss. At the same time, nutritionists recommend reviewing your menu and reducing the number of calories consumed per day to increase the effectiveness of consuming spices.

The oriental spice can be used to prepare dietary sweets. To make marshmallows with this spice, you will need:

cottage cheese with a low fat content - a package of two hundred grams;
gelatin – half a pack;
a glass of warm boiled water;
a pinch of stevia;
cardamom – 1 tsp;
a pinch of cinnamon;
teaspoon cocoa powder.

Dilute gelatin with water and stir until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Add cottage cheese, bring again to the same consistency. Combine everything else and pour into the resulting mass, then pour into a special baking dish. Place in the refrigerator for three to four hours until completely cooled.

Cardamom will be an excellent seasoning for more serious dishes. For example, the spice can be added to vegetarian pilaf, which is prepared from the following products:

sweet pepper – 1 piece;
one carrot;
onions – 1 piece;
200 grams of celery root;
brown rice - two thirds of a glass;
a teaspoon of cardamom;
cinnamon, ground ginger root, black pepper - to taste;
a third of a glass of wild rice;
vegetable broth - 600 milliliters;
three tablespoons of sesame seed oil.

Soak both types of rice in warm water for three hours, then drain the liquid. Take a cauldron to prepare an oriental dish, grease the bottom with oil. Cut the vegetables into strips and fry a little. Then pour the infused rice into the cauldron and fill everything with vegetable broth. Add cardamom and other spices. Cook the pilaf over low heat until the rice is completely softened.

Oriental seasoning can also be used to prepare fish marinade. Required ingredients:

a teaspoon of oriental spice;
a pinch of rosemary;
one hundred milliliters of lemon juice.

Combine the necessary products and pour into a container for sauces. This volume is enough to marinate four medium pieces of white fish. They should be soaked for no longer than twenty minutes. It is best to prepare the dish in a double boiler.

To learn how to cook pilaf with cardamom, watch this video:

Fish marinade “Spicy”

The cardamom flavor goes very well with the fishy one. Such a tandem is not only possible, but also very useful.

Ingredients

Cardamom beans – 1 teaspoon. l.;
Rosemary - a pinch;
Fresh lemon juice - about 100 g.

Preparing the sauce is very simple - you just need to mix all its ingredients. It is stored in a regular gravy boat in the refrigerator.

It would be best to harmonize with white fish. It does not need to be soaked in spices for long - only 20 minutes.