How to make an Iced Turkish Latte

Our popular Iced Turkish Latte adds a touch of the exotic to your day. A delectable blend of coffee, milk and ground cardamon, this latte makes for a great morning, afternoon or evening pick-me-up.

For more great recipes visit BREWSTICKSRecipes.com.

Yields: One 16 oz serving

Ingredients:
1 ½ teaspoons of pure cane syrup
1 French Roast BREWSTICKS packet
8 oz milk
4 dashes of ground cardamom
ice

Instructions:
Combine ingredients in a cup. Add ice and stir. Top with a dash of ground cardamom. 

Cardamom & Blood Pressure

Cardamom is a commonly used spice, especially in Middle Eastern and Indian cooking. It is used in chai tea, curries, rice dishes and herbal teas. However, it may also be beneficial to your health. One of the possible benefits of cardamom is lowering your blood pressure, although the research into this area is still preliminary.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when your heart has to work harder to pump the blood through your body. If your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, you have high blood pressure. Hypertension can lead to other serious health conditions if it isn't treated, including heart disease, stroke, heart attack and kidney failure.

Cardamom and Blood Pressure

Consuming 1.5 g of cardamom two times per day for 12 weeks lowered the blood pressure of people with stage one hypertension who participated in a study published in the "Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics" in December 2009. Although this study was small, using only 20 people, and was not placebo-controlled, it shows that cardamom may be beneficial for people with high blood pressure. Further double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm this effect.

Possible Mechanism

Cardamom appears to behave in the body in a similar way to a type of blood pressure medication called calcium channel blockers, according to another study published in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" in February 2008, which used animals to try to determine the mechanism through which cardamom lowers blood pressure.

Considerations

Speak with your doctor before consuming large amounts of cardamom to make sure this would be safe for you. Do not self-treat high blood pressure with cardamom, or use cardamom instead of the treatment for high blood pressure prescribed by your doctor. The research into the benefits of consuming cardamom for high blood pressure is still preliminary.

References

• "The Jerusalem Post"; Healthy Eating: Spice Up Your Life; Kathryn Rubin; June 2011
• Family Doctor; High Blood Pressure: Things You Can Do to Help Lower Yours; November 2010
• "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Gut Modulatory, Blood Pressure Lowering, Diuretic and Sedative Activities of Cardamom; A.H. Gilani, et al.; February 2008
• "Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics"; Blood Pressure Lowering, Fibrinolysis Enhancing and Antioxidant Acitivities of Cardamom (Elettaria Cardamomum); S.K. Verma, et al.; December 2009

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/485783-cardamom-blood-pressure/#ixzz1mZ7Kw0i1

8 Reasons why you should use Cardamom

1. For Digestive Disorders.

Cardamom reduces the air and water elements, increases appetite and soothes the mucous membrane. It relieves gas and heart-burn caused by garlic and onion. ground cardamom seed mixed with ginger, cloves and coriander, is an effective remedy for indigestion. A tea made from cardamom is valuable in headache caused by indigestion.


2. Detoxifies the body


Cardamom is very helpful in removing toxins from your body. Regular use of cardamom gradually removes the accumulated toxins and improves the blood circulation.


3. Stress Reliever.


Cardamom essential oil is greatly used in aroma therapy by most aroma therapists. A masage with cardamom oil helps relieve mental strain and emotional stress. It also makes you feel fresh and active. Also, a massage with cardamom essential oil provides immediate relief from joint and muscular pain This is one of the most importan cardamom health benefits.


4. Aphrodisiac.


Cardamom is also known to have exquisite aphrodisiac properties. It is therefore used for making certain formulations for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and other similar problems related to impotency. A pinch of powdered cardamom seeds boiled in milk and sweetened with honey every night would yield excellent results. Excessive use of Cardamom at times may lead to impotency.


5. Genito-Urinary Disorders.


Its powdered seeds mixed with a tablespoon of banana leaf and amla juice taken thrice a day, will serve as an excellent diuretic for the treatment of gonorrhea, cystitis, nephritis, burning micturation or urination and scanty urination.

6. Antispasmodic

Cardamom also has antispasmodic properties. If you feel like vomiting or if you are nauseous, simply take a small quantity of cardamom seeds powder in your mouth and swallow it with water. You will get immediate relief from the pain and spasms.

7. Improves circulation to the lungs and this considered good for asthma and bronchitis

Author Silver Grell says that Cardamom helps to improve lung circulation. It soothes mucous membranes. A therapeutic guide to herbal medicine called German Commission E Monographs, verified the safety and efficacy of the cardamom for the treatmen of colds, bronchitis and coughs. It contains expectorant properties and lead to a reduction in the production of mucous. 

8. Anti-inflammatory

Tea containing Cardamom may help in reducing sore throats. Herbal medicines PDR has said that Commission E has approved usage of cardamom for the treatment of pharynx and mouth inflammation. Traditional medicines have been using cardamom oil in the treatment of inflamed nerves, back muscles and joints that are swollen. Cardamom has analgesic properties, as Indian medicine and traditional ayurvedic reports that it eases joint and muscle pain.