⚕️ This is a health information article. It does not replace advice from your doctor, obstetrician, or midwife. View sources

Pregnancy Nutrition · Botanist Reviewed

Is Cardamom Safe During Pregnancy? Safety, Benefits & How Much Is Safe

Everything a pregnant woman needs to know about cardamom (elaichi) during pregnancy — from morning sickness relief to safe daily amounts, first trimester guidance, and what to avoid.

📖 14 min read · 🔬 Botanist reviewed · 📋 8 FAQs answered · 📚 6 peer-reviewed sources
📅 Published: March 2026
🔄 Last reviewed: May 2026
🔄 Updated: October 11, 2026
✅ Botanically reviewed by Dr. Michael Bennett
Pregnant woman holding a warm cup of cardamom (elaichi) tea with green cardamom pods on a wooden table — is cardamom safe during pregnancy guide
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Medical notice: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Pregnancy is a sensitive medical condition — always consult your doctor, obstetrician, or midwife before making any dietary changes, including changes to spice or herbal consumption.
Dr. Michael Bennett
Dr. Michael BennettBotanist · Zingiberaceae Specialist
Botanical Review
Safety Overview

Is Cardamom Safe During Pregnancy?

The short answer is yes — cardamom is safe during pregnancy when used as a culinary spice in normal cooking amounts. Cardamom, known as elaichi in Urdu and Hindi, has been a staple in South Asian, Middle Eastern, and Scandinavian kitchens for centuries — consumed regularly by pregnant women without any documented harm.

In South Asian households, elaichi has been part of pregnancy diets for generations — in chai, warm milk, rice dishes, and desserts — without any documented adverse outcomes. Current research supports that moderate consumption during pregnancy is generally safe and can offer meaningful health benefits. Cardamom is rich in essential minerals and antioxidants, which are vital during pregnancy for both maternal health and fetal development.

The critical distinction is between culinary use and medicinal/supplemental use. WebMD notes that cardamom is commonly consumed in foods during pregnancy, but that it is possibly unsafe to take larger amounts as medicine.[1] The amounts used in everyday cooking — a pod or two in tea, a pinch in rice — are far below any threshold of concern.

✅
Safe in culinary amounts: 1–2 whole pods per serving, a pinch of ground cardamom in recipes, or cardamom tea made with 1–2 pods is considered safe during pregnancy by most healthcare professionals. This is the elaichi you add to chai and biryani every day.
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Use with caution: More than 3–4 pods daily, or any concentrated cardamom supplements, extracts, or essential oils during pregnancy. Research on very high doses is limited — keep intake to culinary levels. If you have a known sensitivity to spices or Zingiberaceae family plants, check with your doctor first.
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Avoid entirely: Cardamom supplements, capsules, medicinal tinctures, or concentrated cardamom essential oil taken internally during pregnancy. Research indicates cardamom compounds can cross the placenta at high concentrations — extra caution with concentrated forms is warranted during pregnancy and lactation.[2]
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Evidence-Based Benefits

Benefits of Cardamom During Pregnancy

Cardamom is not just safe in moderation — it can be genuinely helpful during pregnancy. Many of the challenges pregnant women face — nausea, bloating, indigestion, and even oral health changes — are exactly what cardamom has traditionally been used to address. For a full breakdown, see our complete cardamom health benefits guide.

Infographic showing 6 benefits of cardamom (elaichi) during pregnancy: nausea relief, digestion, antioxidants, blood pressure, oral health, and essential minerals
🫁
Relieves Nausea & Morning Sickness
The volatile oils in cardamom — particularly 1,8-cineole — soothe the stomach lining and reduce nausea signals from the gut. Many pregnant women find that smelling a crushed elaichi pod or sipping cardamom tea settles a queasy stomach within minutes. A 2015 clinical study found cardamom powder significantly reduced nausea and vomiting in pregnant women.[3]
Source: Complementary Medicine Journal, 2015; DOI: 10.22037/jnms.2015.18.4.5
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Supports Digestion & Reduces Bloating
Pregnancy hormones slow digestion, leading to bloating, gas, and constipation. Cardamom is a carminative spice — it stimulates bile flow and relaxes intestinal smooth muscle. In Ayurveda it is described as a “cooling” (tridoshic) spice especially beneficial when women experience more heat and digestive discomfort in pregnancy. See our cardamom tea for digestion guide.
Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India + digestive research
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Antioxidant Protection
Pregnancy increases oxidative stress. The antioxidants in cardamom help combat this — important since oxidative stress can impair placental function and fetal development. Cardamom’s ORAC (antioxidant capacity) value is higher than most common kitchen spices, including cinnamon and cloves.[4]
Source: USDA ORAC Database; Spice Unity, 2024
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Blood Pressure Support
High blood pressure is a serious concern in pregnancy (preeclampsia risk). Some studies suggest cardamom can help regulate blood pressure due to mild diuretic properties and vasodilatory effects.[5] However, if you have blood pressure concerns during pregnancy, always consult your doctor before using cardamom therapeutically.
Source: Indian Journal of Biochemistry & Biophysics, 2009
🦷
Oral Health During Pregnancy
Pregnancy hormones increase the risk of gum inflammation (pregnancy gingivitis). Cardamom has natural antimicrobial properties and has been used in Ayurvedic oral hygiene for centuries. Chewing a pod after meals freshens breath and may reduce oral bacteria — particularly useful when pregnancy nausea makes brushing uncomfortable.
Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
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Rich in Pregnancy-Friendly Minerals
Cardamom contains small amounts of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron — all important during pregnancy. While culinary amounts contribute modestly, every micronutrient source adds up across the day. It pairs well with iron-rich foods — for more spice pairings see our complete cardamom guide.
Source: USDA FoodData Central
🤢
Morning Sickness Relief

Can Cardamom Help with Morning Sickness?

This is one of the most common questions pregnant women ask — and the answer is an encouraging yes. Morning sickness, clinically known as Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy (NVP), affects up to 80% of pregnant women, mostly in the first trimester, and natural remedies are often the first line of comfort.

Cardamom’s ability to settle nausea comes from its essential oil content. When you crush a pod or sip cardamom tea, the volatile compounds — primarily 1,8-cineole — interact with receptors in the gut and nervous system that regulate nausea signals. This mechanism has parallels with how some anti-nausea medications work, but in a much gentler, food-safe form.

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Research backing: A 2015 Iranian clinical study (Sahraei et al., Complementary Medicine Journal, Vol. 5, No. 4) found that cardamom powder significantly reduced nausea and vomiting in pregnant women compared to placebo. While the study used concentrated powder, the findings confirm real biological mechanisms behind cardamom’s anti-nausea effects.[3]

Quickest Ways to Use Cardamom for Nausea

  • Smell a crushed elaichi pod (Safe Sniff Test) — the fastest method. Crack one pod and inhale slowly 3–4 times. Relief can come within minutes. Completely safe at any trimester.
  • Sip warm cardamom tea — 1 pod in hot water, steep 5 minutes. Sip slowly, ideally before your first meal. See our full cardamom tea guide for recipes.
  • Elaichi doodh (warm cardamom milk) — 2 pods simmered in warm milk is a traditional South Asian remedy for pregnancy nausea, especially effective before bed. See our cardamom milk guide.
  • Carry a pod in your bag — when nausea strikes unexpectedly (on public transport, at work), a quick sniff of a cardamom pod can take the edge off without any medication.
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Note on severe NVP (hyperemesis gravidarum): For women experiencing severe morning sickness — vomiting 3+ times daily, losing weight, unable to keep liquids down, or needing IV fluids — this is a serious medical condition called hyperemesis gravidarum. Cardamom can be a gentle complement to treatment, not a replacement. Always follow your doctor’s protocol first. Seek urgent medical help if you are unable to stay hydrated.
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Comparison Guide

Cardamom vs Ginger for Morning Sickness — Which Is Better?

Both cardamom and ginger are traditional remedies for pregnancy nausea — but they work differently and suit different women. Here’s a practical comparison to help you choose or combine them.

FactorGreen Cardamom (Elaichi)Ginger (Adrak)
Clinical evidence1 clinical study (2015, NVP-specific)Stronger — multiple RCTs for NVP
FlavourMild, sweet, floral — easier to tolerateSpicy, pungent — may irritate sensitive stomachs
Best forWomen sensitive to ginger; aromatic reliefWomen who tolerate spice; GERD caution
Safe amount1–2 pods per cup tea; 3–4 pods/day1g/day (about ½ tsp fresh grated)
AromatherapyVery effective — sniffing pod gives fast reliefLess effective as aromatherapy
GERD/heartburnSoothing — cooling carminativeCan worsen heartburn in some women
Recommended bySouth Asian & Middle Eastern traditional medicineNHS, ACOG, most Western guidelines
💡
Best approach: Use ginger as your primary nausea remedy (more clinical evidence) and cardamom as a complementary option — especially when ginger feels too harsh, or for aromatic relief. A chai made with both 1 cardamom pod + a small slice of fresh ginger is a traditional and effective pregnancy remedy across South Asia.
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Tea Safety

Cardamom Tea During Pregnancy — Is It Safe?

Yes — cardamom tea is one of the safest and most beneficial ways to enjoy cardamom during pregnancy. It is gentle, warming, and particularly helpful for nausea and indigestion. For a full recipe collection including pregnancy-safe options, see our cardamom tea guide.

Warm cup of cardamom tea with crushed green cardamom (elaichi) pods beside it — safe cardamom tea during pregnancy

How to Make Pregnancy-Safe Cardamom Tea

  • Crush 1–2 green cardamom pods (lightly — just crack them open)
  • Add to 1 cup of freshly boiled water
  • Steep for 5 minutes, covered
  • Strain and sip slowly
  • Add a small amount of honey if desired (safe after first trimester)

Cardamom in Chai — What About Caffeine?

Many pregnant women in South Asian cultures drink elaichi in their morning chai — black or green tea with 2–3 pods. This is generally fine, provided you keep total daily caffeine under 200mg — the limit recommended by the NHS, WHO, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for pregnancy.[6]

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Caffeine note: Cardamom itself contains zero caffeine — it is the tea base that matters. One cup of black tea chai with cardamom contains approximately 40–70mg caffeine. Two cups per day keeps you safely under the 200mg daily limit. For a completely caffeine-free option (perfect for evening), try our warm cardamom milk recipe. Source: NHS, 2023.[6]

For digestion-specific benefits from cardamom tea during pregnancy, see our detailed cardamom tea for digestion guide.

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Safe Dosage Guide

How Much Cardamom Is Safe During Pregnancy?

No official medical body has published a precise maximum safe dose of cardamom for pregnant women — primarily because culinary amounts have never been shown to cause harm. The guidance below is based on what practitioners and published research consider safe and reasonable.

FormSafe AmountFrequencyNotes
🌿 Whole pods (elaichi)1–2 podsPer serving / per cupMax 3–4 pods per day total
🫙 Ground powder¼ tspPer recipeFresh-ground preferred; check labels
🫖 Cardamom tea1–2 cupsDaily1–2 pods per cup; caffeine-free base is safest
🍽️ In cookingNormal recipe amountAny mealStandard culinary use — entirely fine
💊 Supplements / capsules❌ Avoid—Concentrated dose — not safe in pregnancy
💧 Essential oil (ingested)❌ Avoid—Never ingest essential oils in pregnancy
💡
Rule of thumb: If you are cooking with cardamom or adding elaichi to tea in the amounts you would normally use — you are in safe territory. Concerns arise only with therapeutic doses that are 10–20× higher than normal cooking use. Not sure which form is freshest? Our cardamom storage guide explains pods vs ground powder freshness.
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Trimester Guide

Cardamom by Trimester — What Changes?

Your relationship with cardamom can shift across the three trimesters of pregnancy. Here is a practical guide for each stage.

First Trimester · Weeks 1–12
Most Useful, Most Caution
  • NVP (morning sickness) peaks here — cardamom is most beneficial
  • Stick to 1 elaichi pod in tea, 1–2 times daily
  • Sniffing a crushed pod is completely safe at any stage
  • Avoid medicinal doses — fetal organ development is active
  • Consult your midwife if you have any concerns
Second Trimester · Weeks 13–26
Most Comfortable Period
  • Nausea usually eases — cardamom still helps digestion
  • Normal culinary use is fine throughout
  • Heartburn often begins — cardamom tea after meals helps
  • Elaichi in biryani, chai, and desserts — all fine
  • Continue to avoid supplements and concentrated forms
Third Trimester · Weeks 27–40
Digestive Focus
  • Growing baby compresses stomach — GERD and bloating increase
  • Cardamom tea after meals relieves digestive discomfort
  • Culinary use remains completely fine in all trimesters
  • Anecdotal concern about uterine stimulation at very high doses — unproven, but avoid excessive intake as a precaution
  • Cardamom aroma can ease pregnancy-related fatigue and anxiety
🌿
Type Comparison

Green vs Black Cardamom During Pregnancy

Not all cardamom is the same. Green and black cardamom are completely different plant species with very different flavour profiles and safety considerations in pregnancy. For a full comparison, see our green vs black cardamom guide.

🟢
Green Cardamom
Safe ✓
  • Elettaria cardamomum — the common culinary spice
  • Sweet, floral, gentle flavour profile
  • Widely studied and used in pregnancy traditions
  • Ideal for tea, chai, rice, milk, and desserts
  • 1–2 pods per cup — well-established as safe
  • This is what all pregnancy research refers to
⬛
Black Cardamom
Use with caution
  • Amomum subulatum — a completely different species
  • Smoky, camphor-like, very intense flavour
  • Not studied specifically for pregnancy safety
  • Contains guaiacol — a more potent compound
  • Best avoided or minimised (1 pod in shared biryani is not a concern)
  • Never use black cardamom in tea or medicinal form during pregnancy

When this article (or any pregnancy guide) says “cardamom is safe,” it refers specifically to green cardamom (elaichi) — the green pods used in chai, elaichi doodh, and South Asian and Middle Eastern cooking. One black cardamom pod in a large shared pot of biryani is not a concern — but do not use it daily or medicinally during pregnancy.

Unsure which type is which? Our cardamom pods vs seeds guide explains the difference clearly with photos.

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Safety Considerations

Possible Side Effects & When to Call Your Doctor

For the vast majority of pregnant women, cardamom (elaichi) in culinary amounts causes no side effects at all. However, it is worth knowing what to watch for — particularly if you are consuming it regularly.

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Digestive Discomfort at High Doses
Like any spice, very large amounts of cardamom can cause stomach irritation, loose stools, or — ironically — nausea. This only applies to medicinal-level doses, not to 1–2 pods in tea or cooking.
🤧
Allergic Reaction (Rare)
Some people are allergic to Zingiberaceae family plants (cardamom, ginger, turmeric). If you have a known ginger allergy, use cardamom cautiously. Symptoms: skin rash, itching, or swelling. Stop immediately and consult a doctor if this occurs during pregnancy.
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Uterine Stimulation — Theoretical Only
Some sources suggest high doses might theoretically stimulate the uterus. Scientific evidence for this is very limited and has not been demonstrated at normal culinary amounts. Normal cooking use — including elaichi in chai daily — is not a documented concern.
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Drug Interactions
Cardamom has mild blood-thinning and blood-pressure-lowering properties. If you are on prescribed anticoagulants (blood thinners), antihypertensives, or iron supplements, mention your regular cardamom intake to your doctor — even at culinary amounts it is worth noting.
🚨 When to Call Your Doctor or Midwife
  • You experience any unusual reaction (rash, swelling, difficulty breathing) after consuming cardamom
  • You have been consuming cardamom in very large amounts and have concerns
  • Your pregnancy is classified as high-risk (preterm labour history, preeclampsia, placenta previa)
  • You are on blood pressure medications or anticoagulants
  • Your morning sickness is severe — vomiting 3+ times daily, unable to stay hydrated (possible hyperemesis gravidarum)
  • You have any doubt at all — your doctor or midwife is always the right person to ask
👩‍⚕️
High-risk pregnancy note: If your pregnancy is classified as high-risk — due to preterm labour history, blood pressure issues, placenta previa, or other complications — speak to your obstetrician before consuming cardamom regularly, even in culinary amounts. Harm from culinary use is not documented, but your specific situation may require extra caution and individualised advice.
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Practical Guide

Best Ways to Consume Cardamom During Pregnancy

Here are six safe, practical ways to enjoy cardamom (elaichi) while pregnant — all well within safe culinary amounts.

🫖
Cardamom Tea
1–2 crushed pods in hot water, steeped 5 minutes. Best for nausea and morning sickness. Full recipes here →
1–2 pods · 1–2 cups/day
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Elaichi Doodh (Warm Milk)
2–3 pods simmered in warm milk — a traditional South Asian remedy for pregnancy nausea. Soothing before bed. Full recipe →
2–3 pods · Once daily
🍚
In Rice & Curries
Add 2–3 elaichi pods to rice while cooking. Used in biryani, pulao, and curries. Safe throughout all trimesters.
2–3 pods · Per pot
🥣
In Porridge / Oats
A pinch of ground cardamom in morning oats adds flavour and can help settle early-morning nausea before your first meal.
⅛ tsp powder · Per bowl
☕
Cardamom Coffee
A pinch of ground cardamom in your morning qahwa or coffee is traditional and fine. Monitor total caffeine carefully. Guide here →
⅛ tsp · Watch caffeine
👃
Aromatherapy (Safe Sniff)
Crush a pod and inhale slowly 3–4 times. A fast, medication-free nausea remedy. Do not use concentrated cardamom essential oil during pregnancy.
1 pod · As needed
🔄
If a recipe calls for cardamom but you prefer to limit elaichi during pregnancy, our cardamom substitutes guide covers safe, mild alternatives with exact ratios for 50+ dishes.
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❓
Frequently Asked Questions

Cardamom in Pregnancy — FAQ

Yes — cardamom (elaichi) is safe during pregnancy in normal culinary amounts. Using 1–2 pods in tea or a pinch in cooking has not been shown to cause harm. The key is to stick to culinary amounts and avoid supplements or medicinal doses. Always consult your doctor or midwife about any dietary concerns during pregnancy.
Yes — cardamom tea made with 1–2 crushed green cardamom pods is considered safe during pregnancy and can help with nausea and indigestion. Limit to 1–2 cups per day. If you use black tea or green tea as the base, ensure total daily caffeine stays under 200mg (NHS guideline). Plain cardamom pod tea — just pod and water — is completely caffeine-free. See our full tea guide for more recipes.
1–2 whole pods per serving, up to 3–4 pods per day, or up to ¼ teaspoon of ground cardamom per recipe is considered safe. These are normal culinary amounts — the amounts used in everyday South Asian cooking. Avoid exceeding this without speaking to your doctor, and never take cardamom in supplement, concentrated extract, or essential oil form during pregnancy.
There is no scientific evidence that cardamom in normal cooking amounts causes miscarriage. Some sources note that very large, medicinal doses might theoretically affect the uterus, but the amounts used in everyday cooking are far below any concerning threshold. No documented cases of cardamom-induced miscarriage exist in the medical literature. If you have concerns, speak with your obstetrician.
Yes — cardamom is a traditional remedy for Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy (NVP). A 2015 clinical study found it significantly reduced nausea and vomiting in pregnant women. The volatile oils in cardamom (1,8-cineole) soothe the digestive tract. Sipping cardamom tea or smelling a crushed pod are both safe and effective methods. For severe NVP (hyperemesis gravidarum), cardamom is a complement to — not a replacement for — medical treatment.
Elaichi in small culinary amounts is generally considered safe in the first trimester — and particularly useful because that is when morning sickness (NVP) is worst. Stick to 1 pod per cup of tea and avoid concentrated forms. The first trimester is when extra caution is warranted for all herbal spices, so consult your midwife if you are unsure. Sniffing a crushed pod is a zero-risk option at any trimester.
Green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is the safe and recommended type during pregnancy — well-studied, gentle, and widely used across South Asian and Middle Eastern culinary traditions. Black cardamom (Amomum subulatum) is a different species with a smoky, intense flavour and stronger compounds. It has not been studied for pregnancy safety and is best avoided or kept minimal. For full details, see our green vs black cardamom comparison.
Yes — cardamom’s carminative and cooling properties make it genuinely helpful for the heartburn and acid reflux (GERD) that many women experience from the second trimester onward. Sipping warm cardamom water or adding a pod to warm elaichi doodh after meals can help settle acid. Unlike ginger, which can worsen heartburn in some women, cardamom is a cooling spice that tends to soothe. If heartburn is severe or persistent, consult your doctor — there are safe prescription options for pregnancy heartburn.
About This Guide

Who Wrote & Reviewed This

Emily Rhodes — Nutrition and Herbal Beverage Specialist at CardamomNectar
Emily Rhodes
Author · Nutrition & Herbal Specialist
Emily Rhodes is a nutrition writer and herbal beverage specialist focused on evidence-based dietary guidance. She researched this article using peer-reviewed studies on cardamom’s effects during pregnancy, traditional Ayurvedic and South Asian dietary guidance, and clinical research on NVP. She writes for pregnant women seeking practical, trustworthy information about natural foods and spices.
View full profile →
Dr. Michael Bennett — Botanist and Zingiberaceae Specialist at CardamomNectar
Dr. Michael Bennett
Botanical Reviewer · Zingiberaceae Specialist
Dr. Michael Bennett is a plant scientist specialising in the Zingiberaceae family — the botanical group that includes cardamom, ginger, and turmeric. He reviewed this article for botanical accuracy, verified compound information (1,8-cineole, guaiacol), and assessed citations on cardamom’s perinatal effects. Note: this is a botanical review, not a clinical obstetric medical review.
View full profile →
Editorial scope: This article is reviewed for botanical and nutritional accuracy by Dr. Michael Bennett (botanist, Zingiberaceae specialist). It is not a clinical obstetric review and does not replace advice from your obstetrician, midwife, or GP. The review covers plant chemistry and traditional use — not clinical pregnancy outcomes. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for pregnancy-specific dietary decisions.
👩‍⚕️
Always consult your doctor or midwife. This guide provides general botanical and nutritional information about cardamom during pregnancy. Every pregnancy is different. Before making significant dietary changes — including changing how much elaichi you consume — please speak with your obstetrician, midwife, or GP. This is especially important if your pregnancy is classified as high-risk, or if you are taking any prescription medications.
📚 Sources & References
  • [1] WebMD. Cardamom: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Dosage. Reviewed by registered nutritionist. webmd.com
  • [2] National Library of Medicine. Safety of Herbal Medicines in Pregnancy. LactMed/Drugs & Lactation Database. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  • [3] Sahraei Z, et al. Effect of cardamom on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Complementary Medicine Journal, Vol. 5, No. 4, 2015. DOI: 10.22037/jnms.2015.18.4.5
  • [4] USDA FoodData Central. Spices, cardamom — Nutrient profile. fdc.nal.usda.gov
  • [5] Verma SK, Jain V, Katewa SS. Blood pressure lowering, fibrinolysis enhancing and antioxidant activities of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum). Indian Journal of Biochemistry & Biophysics, 2009; 46(6):503–6.
  • [6] NHS. Foods to avoid in pregnancy — Caffeine. NHS UK, 2023. nhs.uk

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