Nutrition Facts The Health Benefits of Cardamom How cardamom pods, seeds, and oil are used in medicine By Malia Frey facebook twitter linkedin Malia Frey is a weight loss expert, certified health coach, weight management specialist, personal trainer, and fitness nutrition specialist. Learn about our editorial process Malia Frey Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard Fogoros, MD on November 29, 2018 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Review Board Richard Fogoros, MD Updated on March 11, 2019 Print Verywell / Alexandra Shytsman Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Benefits Nutrition Facts Select/Prep/Store Side Effects Cardamom is a spice that is commonly used in Indian cooking, Middle Eastern dishes, drinks, and baked goods. Green cardamom (Elettaria) and black cardamom (Amomum) come from the pods of a plant (Zingiberaceae) in the ginger family. The spice has a warm, smoky, sweet flavor that some also describe as minty. You'll see cardamom sold in many different forms. It is sold in ground form and known to be one of the most expensive spices. You may also find cardamom pods, cardamom extract, and cardamom oil that is made from the seeds. Health Benefits In addition to its use as a flavoring agent and preservative in foods, Cardamom has been used to treat a range of different ailments, including: Stomach and digestive problems Morning sickness Viral, bacterial, and fungal infections (including cold symptoms) Bronchitis Inflammation of the mouth or pharynx Liver and gallbladder problems Epilepsy Headache Cardiovascular disease Appetite stimulation Cardamom may also be used to increase appetite or to boost water loss. There are even some reports of people using cardamom to induce an abortion. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence to support the use of the spice for any of these indications. There is some limited research that suggests green cardamom may help to reduce blood pressure in patients who are newly diagnosed with hypertension. However, more studies are needed to confirm this benefit. There is also preliminary research suggesting that a mixture of essential oils from cardamom, ginger, and tarragon applied to the neck after surgery can prevent post-operative nausea. But more evidence is needed before scientists know for sure if this treatment is effective. Nutrition Facts One teaspoon of ground cardamom (2 grams) provides approximately 6 calories, just over 1 gram of carbohydrate, and less than 1 gram each of protein and fat. Cardamom will help you meet your daily manganese requirements (0.6 mg per teaspoon or 28 percent of your daily value). The spice will boost your calcium intake slightly (7.7 mg) and also contribute to your potassium intake (22.4 mg). There is also a small amount of magnesium (4.6 mg) and phosphorus (3.6 mg) in a teaspoon of the spice. Lastly, you'll get a small dose of vitamin C with cardamom. A teaspoon provides 0.4 mg, or 1 percent of your daily recommended intake. Selection, Preparation, and Storage Because cardamom is expensive and doesn't have a long shelf life, some savvy cooks choose to buy the pods rather than the ground spice. Pods last longer when properly stored. If you purchase ground cardamom, it should be kept in an airtight container and stored in a cool dry place, such as your pantry. The ground spice is likely to stay fresh for several months. If you purchase cardamom pods, you should also store them in an airtight container in a cool and dry place, but they are likely to stay good for about a year. Some Recipes That Use Cardamom Hot Millet Breakfast Cereal Cardamom Hot Cocoa 5 Spice Honeyed Golden Milk Warming Vata Tea Strawberry Pistachio Pavlova Possible Side Effects Cardamom is likely safe if you use it in typical amounts required for cooking. And it may be safe when used as a medicinal aid, but little is known about the potential side effects of cardamom. Health experts advise that cardamom may be unsafe when used in medicinal amounts by pregnant women. If you are expecting, check with your healthcare provider to get personalized advice. Additionally, patients with gallstones should avoid cardamom in amounts higher than those typically found in food as the ingredient may trigger gallstone colic. Common Questions What is the best cardamom substitute? Even though the flavor of cardamom is fairly unique, there are several spices that you may be able to use if you are out of it. These include nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, apple pie spice (which may include cardamom anyway), or cloves. How do I grind cardamom pods? If you buy cardamom pods, rather than the ground spice, you'll want to toast the pods before grinding them. Then simply use a mortar and pestle to smash pods and reveal the seeds. The seeds can then be ground again using the mortar and pestle again or by grinding them in a coffee or spice grinder. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get nutrition tips and advice to make healthy eating easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Gilani, A. H., Jabeen, Q., Khan, A., & Shah, A. J. (2008). Gut modulatory, blood pressure lowering, diuretic and sedative activities of cardamom. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 115(3), 463–472. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2007.10.015. Hunt R, Dienemann J, Norton HJ, et al. Aromatherapy as treatment for postoperative nausea: a randomized trial. Anesth Analg. 2013;117(3):597-604. DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e31824a0b1c. Jamal, A., Javed, K., Aslam, M., & Jafri, M. A. (2006). Gastroprotective effect of cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum Maton. fruits in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 103(2), 149–153. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2005.07.016. Natural Medicines Database. Cardamom. Professional Monograph and Patient Handout. Published Dec. 2017. Verma SK, Jain V, Katewa SS. Blood pressure lowering, fibrinolysis enhancing and antioxidant activities of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum). Indian J Biochem Biophys. 2009;46(6):503-6.