Cinnamon vs Cardamom - Health impact and Nutrition Comparison

Summary

Cardamom is a more expensive spice compared to cinnamon. It is richer in zinc, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, and vitamins C, B1, B6. Comparatively, cinnamon is richer in fibers, vitamins K, E, B2, B5, and A. They have antioxidative, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, anticarcinogenic properties.

Introduction

Cardamom is a spice that is harvested as small green seeds. It is initially harvested in Asian countries, specifically India and Indonesia. Nowadays, with the spread of agriculture, Guatemala is the highest producer of cardamom, followed by India.

On the other hand, we have cinnamon, a different type of spice. The origin of cinnamon traces back to ancient China. It comes from the inner bark of a dried-up cinnamon wood tree. Also, it could be found in powder form. Its essential flavor comes from cinnamaldehyde which is an oil extracted from it. Indonesia and China produce 70% of cinnamon around the world.

In this article, bare compared to each other, considering their general differences, nutritional content, and health impacts.

General differences

What are the actual differences between cardamom and cinnamon?

The general differences that we consider are availability, price, and culinary usage.

Availability

Cardamom and cinnamon are mostly available globally and during all seasons. Although, we can add that cinnamon is more distributed in all households than cardamon.

Price

Cardamon is one of the most expensive spices, and it is ranked 3rd in expensiveness after saffron and vanilla. On the other hand, cinnamon is a cheaper spice compared to cardamon.

Culinary usage

Cardamom is used for various reasons. It can be used in cooking. One of the most famous usages of cardamon is combined with coffee in the Arab world.

On the other hand, cinnamon is widely used in middle eastern cuisine. It also has a combination of a hot beverage, cinnamon, and black tea. A famous usage of cinnamon powder is cinnamon rolls. However, they are loaded with sugars.

Nutritional content comparison

The nutritional content comparison will cover the differences in calories, glycemic index, macronutrients, and micronutrients for cardamom and cinnamon.
The serving sizes are 1 tsp for each. The serving size of cardamom is equivalent to 2g and for cinnamon is 2.6g.

Calories

Cardamom contains higher amounts of calories than cinnamon. However, when considering their serving sizes, these are around 6-7 calories.

Carbohydrates

Cinnamon contains higher carb amounts as compared to cardamom. However, this carb amount is mostly due to the fact that cinnamon is high in fibers.

Fibers

The fiber content of cinnamon is almost double the amount of that in cardamon.

Protein and fat

Cardamom contains higher amounts of both protein and fats. However, when we take into consideration, the serving size of each of these numbers is negligible.

Minerals

Cardamom has a richer mineral profile compared to cinnamon.

Cardamom is richer in zinc, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and copper.

On the other hand, cinnamon is richer in calcium levels.

It is important to mention that cinnamon contains high amounts of zinc, iron, potassium. However, comparatively, cardamom contains more.

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" chart below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food

Cinnamon

2

:

6

Cardamom

Contains more Calcium +161.6%

Contains less Sodium -44.4%

Contains more Iron +67.9%

Contains more Magnesium +281.7%

Contains more Phosphorus +178.1%

Contains more Potassium +159.6%

Contains more Zinc +308.2%

Contains more Copper +13%

Cinnamon

Cardamom

Contains more Calcium +161.6%

Contains less Sodium -44.4%

Contains more Iron +67.9%

Contains more Magnesium +281.7%

Contains more Phosphorus +178.1%

Contains more Potassium +159.6%

Contains more Zinc +308.2%

Contains more Copper +13%

Vitamins

When it comes to the vitamin profile, cinnamon is richer in vitamins.

Cinnamon is richer in vitamins K, E, B2, B5, and A.

On the other hand, cardamom is richer in vitamins C, B1, B6.

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" chart below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food

Cinnamon

6

:

4

Cardamom

Contains more Vitamin A +∞%

Contains more Vitamin B3 +20.9%

Contains more Vitamin C +452.6%

Contains more Vitamin B1 +800%

Contains more Vitamin B2 +343.9%

Contains more Vitamin B6 +45.6%

Cinnamon

Cardamom

Contains more Vitamin A +∞%

Contains more Vitamin B3 +20.9%

Contains more Vitamin C +452.6%

Contains more Vitamin B1 +800%

Contains more Vitamin B2 +343.9%

Contains more Vitamin B6 +45.6%

Health impacts

Antioxidant

Cardamom contains phytochemicals that reduce overall levels of free radicals in the system. In addition to that, these compounds have anti-inflammatory properties. They reduce overall levels of chronic inflammatory cytokines. (1)

Phenolic compounds in cinnamon contribute to their antioxidative activities by scavenging free radicals and maintaining antioxidative enzymes to keep free radical levels in low amounts. (2)

Cardiovascular health

Cardamom extracts, in concentrated amounts, have calcium channel blocking activity that acts in blood pressure regulation. In addition to that, it also has diuretic effects, which also act to reduce pressure in hypertensive people. (3)

Cinnamaldehyde present in cinnamon has vasodilatory effects, an important property to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive people. (2)

Both cardamom and cinnamon have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, which is the immediate improvement of hypertension cases; however, they have different mechanisms.

Cancer

As we mentioned before, cardamom phytochemicals that have antioxidative properties have a benefit in cancer. These compounds have chemopreventive characteristics against being skin cancer-like papillomas. (4) (5)

Cinnamon extracted phenols have protective roles against hematological cancers. They suppress cells to further transform into cancer cells. (6)
The antioxidative properties of cinnamon extract have protective functions against colorectal cancer. (7)

Diabetes

Cardamom extracts have hepatoprotective functions in diabetes. In addition to that, it prevents dyslipidemia which decreases the risks of atherosclerosis and cardiac diseases. (8)

Cinnamon intake during type 2 diabetes shows improvement of blood glucose and lipids levels, which means decreased risks of diabetic complications, mainly on the cardiovascular system. (9) (10)

Digestive tract

Cardamom has gastroprotective functions in cases of gastric ulcers. It helps improve the mucous layer to protect against further erosion and damage to the gastric ulcer. Overall, improvement of healing or at least preventing further progression of the ulcer. (11)

Cardamom has positive and healing effects on the intestinal tract. Improving the gastrointestinal milieu for better absorption and healthier microbiome. (12)

Cinnamon has inhibitory functions on cells that cause fibrosis of the intestinal tract in chronic colitis. (13)

Cinnamaldehyde present in cinnamon enhances the activity of the gut microbiome. (14)

Neurodegenerative

Cardamom extracts cineole have protective characteristics in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. (15)

Cinnamon extracts have neuroprotective properties against Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. (16) (17)

References

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28458157/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003790/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18037596/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22404574/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22182368/
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16253769/
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18260732/
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5557534/
9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14633804/
10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24019277/
11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16298093/
12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17440996/
13. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28324642/
14. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34712688/
15. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12017-019-08574-2
16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19433898/
17. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24946862/