Cardamom has another name that is Elaichi. Elaichi is a kind of spice plant produced from the seeds of some plants. Elaichi includes expensive spices in the world, after turmeric and vanilla. Many people use elaichi as a spice for certain dishes and also for a mixture of herb or traditional medicine.
Elaichi came from India and was introduced to Guatemala by Oscar Majus Kloeffer, who was a German coffee planter before World War I. However, now the largest elaichi production is in Guatemala and then in India. Some other countries also do elaichi cultivation such as Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
In Indonesia, there are two kinds of elaichi used, namely Elaichi Jawa (Amomum compactum) and Elaichi India (Elettaria cardamomum) which both belong to the tribe of ginger or Zingiberaceae. There are some benefits of elaichi for example, you can see the list of Health Benefits of Cardamom. However, in addition to all these benefits, there are other benefits of Elaichi. What are the health benefits of elaichi for weight loss?
What are the nutritional contents of Elaichi?
- Energy               311 Kcal
- Carbohydrates  47 g
- Protein                76 g
- Fat                        7 g
- Cholesterol         0 mg
- Fiber                    28 g
- Niacin                 102 mg
- Pyridoxine          230 mg
- Riboflavin          182 mg
- Thiamin              198 mg
- Vitamin A Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0 IU
- Vitamin C Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 21 mg
- Sodium               18 mg
- Potassium           1119 mg
- Calcium              383 mg
- Copper               383 mg
- Iron                    97 mg
- Magnesium      229 mg
- Manganese       28 mg
- Phosphorus      178 mg
- Zinc                    47 mg
Elaichi contains a chemical compound that acts as an anti-oxidant that can help prevent illness and maintain health. Antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant, stomach, and tonic are the therapeutic properties of the elaichi oil.
As you can see in the list of nutritional content, elaichi is a source of minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Copper is a component that supports the production of red blood cells.
Elaichi is also a source of iron and manganese. Iron supporting the formation of red blood cells and cell metabolism. Manganese is a helper factor for enzymes, superoxide dismutase, and ward off free radicals. That’s the nutritional content of elaichi. So, what are the health benefits of elaichi for weight loss?
Now to lose weight, you do not have to bother to do it. There is a lot of help to lose weight for example you can find many Healthy Fruits for Weight Loss, one of which is using elaichi. Elaichi provides assistance with its ability to reduce water retention, improve lipid profile, and improve digestion and metabolism. According to Ayurveda, elaichi can help burn belly fat thereby reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome and and lower cholesterol levels. Researchers have begun to identify elaichi ability to help weight loss. How?
- Cleaning toxins
According to Ayurveda, certain diseases can result from the buildup of excess toxins. This is very dangerous, because it can block normal circulation and lower energy levels. To overcome this it has been suggested that you consume non-toxic foods, one of which is elaichi. For example, you can handle it by drinking spicy tea made from elaichi.
- Prevents fat accumulation in the abdomen and increases metabolism
Elaichi can help prevent the buildup of fat in the area that will generally appear this problem – the stomach. Fats tend to accumulate around the abdomen, so it can raise some health problems such as metabolic problems and other dangerous problem such as cardiovascular problems.
Research has proven that elaichi can solve this problem. A study conducted on a mouse that given elaichi capsules as a supplement proves that elaichi can increase glucose tolerance, control lipid levels and stop the fat accumulation in the abdomen. So, elaichi should be tried as a drug to lose weight. See here about the Health Benefits of Glucose
- Overcome water retention
If you experience weight gain due to water retention, you can count on elaichi to cope. Water retention is the excess fluid that accumulates in the body. Water retention is also called edema. Through a study, elaichi has been shown to release excess water in the body in the form of urine.
Research done on animals proves an increase in the volume of urine produced by the subject after being given elaichi. The diuretic properties present in elaichi are comparable to commercially produced diuretics.
- Lowering bad cholesterol
Elaichi is one of the Foods That Lower Cholesterol Level. Elaichi has a fat-busting properties that help lower blood cholesterol levels. The anti-hyperlipidemic activity in elaichi brings benefits to those who have cholesterol problems due to being overweight or obese.
Studies conducted by administering green elaichi powder to a woman suffering from prediabetic obesity proves that elaichi significantly decreases total cholesterol content, LDL cholesterol, and bad triglycerides. See here to know how bad Health Risks of Cholesterol
- Overcome digestive disorders
Digestive disorders can also be one cause of bloating. Elaichi is a popular treatment for gastrointestinal disorders in Unani medicine. The extracts of fruit and skin of elaichi have the power to fight microbes such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bacillus pumilus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus aureus can also be treated with antibacterial properties present in elaichi essential oils. The function of elaichi to fight this bad bacteria, make the balance of intestinal flora back to normal, so that the digestive system also returned to normal.
- The benefits of nutrition in elaichi
One of the nutrients possessed elaichi that have a function to lose weight is melatonin. Melatonin can help improve the process of burning fat in the body. Melatonin increases the stimulation of “beige fat” which is a fat cell that has an important influence on weight loss. It also helps burn calories in white adipose tissue in the body. This function causes the process of weight loss occurs more quickly.
How to use elaichi to lose weight?
The best way is to make it as a tea. Besides Drinking Ginger Tea for Weight Loss Treatments, you also can use elaichi tea to do that. Destroy elaichi then mix with the usual tea leaves when you will make the tea. Do not add sugar or cream, but you can add low-fat milk in elaichi tea. This is the best way to lose weight.
Cautions of elaichi!
Although there are health benefits from elaichi for losing weight that we can get, there are some things you need to know while consuming elaichi.
When elaichi performs its function to lower bad cholesterol, this process also lowers some good cholesterol, but only a little. Consuming elaichi in large amounts can also lead to some allergic reactions and can cause gallstones due to the failure absorption of elaichi completely by our digestive system. In addition, some drugs may also have a negative interaction with elaichi. So, it is recommended that you consume elaichi according to the doctor’s advice.