#12: The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth

00Angela00

This is day twelve of our education of the 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. Woo Hoo! Some of these you won't be surprised by, some you will. I'll take one out of each food group each day to mix it up a bit.

All information is from the book by jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth".

Day 12: Cardamom

If you've ever eaten at an Indian restaurant, you've probably encountered cardamom. Cardamom is actually the dried, unripened fruit of a perennial mamber of the ginger family. The pods contain highly aromatic citruslike, floral-flavored seends with menthol undertones. Most Indian restaurants have a little dish of these seeds at the entranceway, or at the cash register, much like we have after-dinner mints. That's because when the seeds are chewed, they're a terrific breath freshener.

* One of the World's most ancient spices

* Stimulates bile flow for liver health and fat metabolism

* Has been used as a digestive aid since ancient times and is known for easing stomach cramps, stimulating digestion, and cutting mucus

* It's an agent that induces the expulsion of gas from the stomach and intestines, which makes it terrific for flatulence

* Great way to consume it is in tear, which you can easily make by simply pouring boiling water of about 2 teaspoonds of the seeds. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, then drain, discard the seends, and enjoy! (Many ancients believe a cardamom tea to be an aphrodisiac. Feel free to experiment and let me know the results.)

* Indian cadamom comes in two "flavors"--Malabar and Mysore. The Mysore variety contains higher levels of limonene, a valuable phytochemical that boosts the body's synthesis of an enzyme that has antioxidant properties and helps detoxify chemicals. (Limonene is also found in citrus fruit peels, cherries, celery, and fennel.)

WORTH KNOWING
Health professionals often recommend not using cardamom in the presence of gallstones, as it could precipitate an attack

For previous posts:
ARTICHOKES: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57017--1-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
OATMEAL: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57180--2-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
BEANS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57278--3-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
APPLES: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57482--4-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
ALMONDS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57516--5-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
EDAMAME: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57602--6-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
BUTTER/GHEE http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57689--7-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
EGGS: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57791--8-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
CRUSTACEA: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/57940--9-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
BEE POLLEN: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58069--10-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth
ACAI JUICE: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58196--11-the-150-healthiest-foods-on-earth

kvcarden

Thanks for also including your previous posted links...because somehow I hadn't seen any of those posts!

toots99

Lots of good info, thanks! :flowerforyou:

00Angela00

Thanks for also including your previous posted links...because somehow I hadn't seen any of those posts!

no problem! :happy:

JoyousMaximus

It sounds intersting but I do have to say I'm not sure how I feel about something that causes flatulence AND is supposed to be an aphrodisiac. It seem like it could lead to some rather embaressing moments.

00Angela00

It sounds intersting but I do have to say I'm not sure how I feel about something that causes flatulence AND is supposed to be an aphrodisiac. It seem like it could lead to some rather embaressing moments.

haha, that's hilarious! :laugh:

stewartmn

Thank you so much for doing this! They keep getting better and better (and easier to follow) as you added the links and now the food with the link! I'm already incorporating some of these into my diet!

leann_m_olson

cardamom pods are kinda expensive and hard to find. We had a recipe for holiday glug (swedish drink) that called for them.

Wecandothis

I read this and became intrigued! I found out that Cardamom is also known as 'grains of paradise' which I've seen in more exotic and obscure recipes, and had no idea what it was! But when I looked into purchasing some at the grocery store, I was deterred by the price.

Then I tried bulkfoods.com!! That place is GREAT for purchasing spices, seeds, beans, etc...

I got Decordicated Cardamom - which means 'out of the pod'. What a big fancy word for that. Anyway it was 20 bucks for that amount and it's a huge canister that will last me ages - maybe 6 months.

I put the podless seeds into my tea cup with black tea, and sometimes cinnamon and ginger, add hot water and let it seep. I don't bother to strain, I just drink it - the seeds stay in the bottom of the cup.

It's delicious, and it makes the entire room smell wonderful!

00Angela00

WOW, good info! THanks for the information!