Should You Add Cardamom To Your Coffee?

Experts explained its effect on blood sugar levels.

Cardamom is a very aromatic spice from the ginger family that is often added to fall coffee drinks and lattes. There are some claims that cardamom in coffee may help lower blood sugar levels, but it’s not quite that simple. Verywell Health writes about this.

Does cardamom in coffee lower blood sugar levels?

The small amount of cardamom typically added to a cup of coffee or latte will not have a significant effect on blood sugar levels.

“A 2022 meta-analysis covering six studies involving 410 people showed that daily consumption of 3 grams of cardamom was associated with a reduction in insulin resistance over a period ranging from 8 weeks to 3 months. However, cardamom consumption did not have a significant effect on fasting blood sugar levels,” the article notes.

It should be emphasized that a significant portion of current research on the effect of cardamom on blood sugar levels focuses on people with pre-existing metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

“These studies examined the effect of cardamom on blood sugar levels when taken as a 3-gram-per-day supplement, not when a pinch is added to a latte. Even at the doses used in these studies, the effect on fasting blood sugar levels is minimal. A more consistent effect is observed on insulin sensitivity (how well your body’s cells respond to insulin), rather than on blood sugar levels themselves,” the publication emphasizes.

Other factors influencing coffee consumption in everyday life

When analyzing the effects of coffee, it’s important to distinguish between spices and the coffee itself. Even if cardamom does have a positive effect on blood sugar levels in culinary doses, other factors must be taken into account when it comes to a cardamom latte.

“For example, most drinks you’ll get at a coffee shop contain frothed milk and one (or more) servings of sweetened flavored syrup or other sources of added sugar, and all of this affects blood sugar levels much more significantly than even a small amount of the spice could. And if you use a ready-made packet of cardamom latte, it will likely contain even more ingredients that affect blood sugar levels,” the article states.

That’s why experts say that if you like coffee with cardamom—whose flavor is often described as citrusy, minty, and even slightly peppery—then, of course, you should enjoy it. However, you should drink it for the taste and the caffeine boost, not for its purported health benefits regarding blood sugar levels.

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