10/29/2019 / By Melissa Smith
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease today. Fatty liver is commonly caused by excessive alcohol intake. However, as its name implies, NAFLD can develop with little to no alcohol consumption. New research published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggested that people with NAFLD may benefit from taking green cardamom supplements.
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is a popular spice used in sweet and savory dishes. It comes from the seeds and seed pods of different plants that belong to the ginger (Zingiberaceae) family. There are two main types of cardamom: black cardamom and green cardamom. The former is most often found in India and Asia, while the latter is typically used in Nordic and Middle Eastern cuisine. Green cardamom is also known as true cardamom and is the most commonly found variety in the spice aisle of supermarkets.
Aside from its culinary uses, green cardamom has also been used for medicinal purposes. In the study, a team of researchers from Tehran, Iran looked at its potential to improve NAFLD biomarkers in overweight or obese patients. The research team investigated the effects of green cardamom on serum glucose indices, lipids, and irisin level in overweight or obese people with NAFLD.
They recruited 87 participants who were randomly divided into two groups: a green cardamom treatment group and a placebo group. Participants in the treatment group received 500 mg of green cardamom with meals thrice a day for three months.
The researchers also measured the participants’ levels of fasting blood sugar, insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. They also measured the levels of irisin, a myokine and adipokine that can influence insulin sensitivity. The participants’ insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance were also measured.
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Results showed that the participants in the treatment group experienced significant increases in irisin, HDL cholesterol, and insulin sensitivity. They also experienced lower fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, insulin resistance, and the grade of fatty liver. Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that green cardamom can be a beneficial supplement for overweight or obese people with NAFLD.
For centuries, the seeds, oils, and extracts of cardamom have been used by traditional healers to treat various ailments, and many of the spice’s health benefits are backed by scientific literature. Here are several health conditions that can be improved with cardamom:
Read more news and stories on natural, drugless ways of improving NAFLD at LiverDamage.news.
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Tagged Under: alternative medicine, cardamom, fatty liver, food cures, food is medicine, foodscience, functional food, green cardamom, herbal medicine, Herbs, liver disease, liver health, NAFLD, natural cures, natural medicine, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obese, obesity, overweight, remedies, research, Spices, supplements
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