Cardamom is a spice known since the days of the Greeks and Romans, who used it to produce perfumes, and is currently known as the third most expensive spice in the world after saffron and vanilla.
That findable on the Kenyan coast comes mainly from Tanzania, a major producer in competition with the East.
The fruits are small oval cardamom pods (capsules) of about 1 cm long, pale green containing many small seeds brown-colored seeds nero.I are usually ground up and used as a spice, but because they quickly lose their aroma are marketed the whole dried pods.
In general the characteristics of this spice are stimulants thanks to the presence of a substance called cineole, able to act on the central nervous system. The cineole has antiseptic properties, is useful in sore throat, pharyngitis and respiratory disorders.
The powder obtained from the seeds can have a stimulating effect and antidepressant, if it is assumed boiled.
Cardamom can also be included in the diet and in natural remedies to speed up metabolism and lead to weight loss.
It has large properties and turmeric and ginger is an ingredient of curry, traditional Indian seasoning.
In case of stomachache and hiccup the essence of cardamom it is capable of promoting digestion and relax the diaphragm.
To avoid bloating caused by certain foods, such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, legumes, vegetables cooked in general, you can put some seeds (3 or 4) during the cooking of food, without which it is particularly altered the flavor.
An infusion of cardamom can be used to rinse to make pleasant breath, or chew some pod after a heavy meal to aid digestion and freshen the breath.
To take advantage of the beneficial properties of cardamom can also do simple infusions to breathe with a towel on his head to clear the airways. A sort of domestic aerosols.