Popular Spice Becomes the Latest ‘Superfood,’ Promotes Fat Loss, Reduces Inflammation: Researchers

epic_images/Shutterstock

According to a new study published in the International Journal of Molecular Science, a common spice widely used across the globe joins a growing list of “superfoods” known to facilitate weight loss, reduce inflammation, boost exercise recovery, and lower chronic disease risk.

Cardamom seed, sometimes described as having eucalyptus, mint, and pepper scents, is a key ingredient in many Indian dishes, such as curry, rice pudding, and chai. In addition to its warm, savory flavor, the spice carries a range of health benefits thanks to its naturally occurring compounds.

These compounds stimulate metabolism, leading to increased calorie burn and the production of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory responses by controlling key pathways between the brain and gut.

Story continues below advertisement

Researchers at Texas A&M University assigned groups of mice to a diet consisting of 3 percent, 6 percent, or 12 percent of cardamom seed versus a control diet with none. After 14 weeks, they found that even though rodents fed cardamom were hungrier and ate more calories, the mice also showed a better ability to break down fat tissue, had less body fat, and had more lean mass than the control group.

The researchers then extrapolated their findings using a mice-to-human equation. They estimated that a 132-pound adult would need to consume at least 14.5 grams of seeds per day (roughly 3.5 teaspoons), to reap similar benefits.

“Cardamom is a spice little known in the U.S., but very common in other parts of the world,” principal investigator Luis Cisneros-Zevallos said in a statement. “What we found is that this small spice can burn calories and maintain body weight while increasing appetite and food consumption.”

In addition to weight loss benefits, cardamom improved mitochondrial activity in the muscles and liver. Healthy mitochondrial activity is essential for energy production and plays a critical role in recovering from exercise, slowing the aging process, and warding off disease.

The discovery made by the cross-collaborative team presents an amazing opportunity with real-world implications, Mr. Cisneros-Zevallos said. Incorporating small amounts of cardamom seed into one’s diet is a simple and effective way to improve health in several ways and in different sectors, such as the sports industry, functional foods production, and dietary supplements, he said.

“These preclinical results pave the way for further research aiming to deepen our understanding of the endocrine and metabolic effects of cardamom, and bolster the use of cardamom seed ... in the treatment of metabolic disease,” the authors wrote.