Cardamom and fennel are utilized in traditional Ayurveda medicine and cuisine to balance the digestive system. The sweet, cooling effects of fennel are said to heighten Agni, the digestive fire. Cardamom is believed to be a warming spice that can balance pitta, kapha and vita doshas, the bodily characteristics that form individual personality. Traditional science has agreed with Ayurveda's belief in the power of cardamom and fennel, and has added a few benefits of its own to the list.
Cardiovascular Support
A recent study conducted at RNT Medical College in India has found 3g. of cardamom given in two divided doses for 12 weeks to lower blood pressure and improve blood clot breakdown in subjects with stage 1 primary hypertension. According to the National Institutes of Health, while blood clotting is necessary to quell blood loss in physical trauma, clots that block arteries create oxidative stress. The study adjourned by stating that cardamom increased antioxidant activity needed for the restoration of damaged cells caused by oxidative stress by 90 percent.
Cellular Defense
Both fennel and cardamom aid in alleviating cellular damage via rich amounts of the mineral manganese. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, without the antioxidants found in manganese, the energy structures of cells would suffer immense oxidative stress due to their over-consumption of oxygen cells in the body. Manganese deficiencies have also been linked to impaired growth, reproductive issues and skeletal abnormalities. According to NutritionData.com, adding 1 tbsp. of cardamom to your lunch or dinner will offer 80 percent of the daily value for manganese.
Anti-Cancer Agent
Research at Jawaharlal Nehru University and the American University of Sharja have labeled fennel seeds and cardamom chemo-preventives in subjects with cancer due to their ability of reducing or killing tumors and their multiplicity. The moderate vitamin C levels found in cardamom and fennel ultimately play a role in the body's ability to heal and combat free radical damage associated with cancer. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin C is also responsible for creating collagen, a vital protein for the growth and repair of tissues.
References
- Maharishi Ayurveda: Fennel
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Blood Pressure Lowering, Fibrinolysis Enhancing and Antioxidant Activities of Cardamom
- National Institutes of Health: Blood Clots
- The Linue Pauling Institute: Manganese
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Chemomodulatory Action of Fennel on Skin and Forestomach Papillomagenesis
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