Does Eating Cardamom Increase Testosterone? A Look at the Evidence

November 20, 2025 •

4 min read

Long revered in traditional medicine for its antioxidant, aphrodisiac, and aromatic properties, many wonder if eating cardamom increase testosterone. While some animal studies show a potential link, direct, high-quality human evidence confirming this effect in healthy individuals is still lacking.

Quick Summary

Animal studies suggest cardamom extract can increase testosterone in specific health conditions, but human evidence is sparse. The spice offers other health benefits, primarily antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support, which contribute to overall well-being.

Key Points

Limited Human Evidence: There is no strong, reliable scientific evidence showing that eating cardamom directly increases testosterone levels in healthy men.
Promising Animal Studies: Research in animal models, particularly hypothyroid mice and lead-exposed rats, suggests cardamom extract can help restore compromised testosterone levels.
Powerful Antioxidant: Cardamom possesses significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can indirectly support overall endocrine health by reducing oxidative stress.
Potential for Aphrodisiac Effects: Traditional medicine attributes aphrodisiac properties to cardamom, potentially due to improved blood circulation rather than a direct hormonal boost.
General Health Benefits: Cardamom can support digestion, lower blood pressure, and help manage stress, all of which contribute to general well-being important for hormonal balance.
Look to Other Herbs: For men seeking a potential testosterone boost, other herbs like Fenugreek and Ashwagandha have more direct—though still complex—research supporting their use.

Understanding the Link Between Cardamom and Hormones

Cardamom, often called the “Queen of Spices,” has a long history of use in traditional medicine, including Ayurveda, for promoting vitality and sexual health. These traditional uses often attribute aphrodisiac properties to the spice, leading to widespread speculation that it might directly influence sex hormones like testosterone. However, modern scientific investigation is necessary to distinguish traditional beliefs from empirically supported facts.

Promising Results from Animal Studies

Research conducted on animal models provides some of the most compelling, albeit indirect, evidence regarding cardamom's potential hormonal effects. Several studies have explored how cardamom extract (ECE) affects reproductive and endocrine function in animals with specific health issues:

Hypothyroid Mice: A study published in 2023 investigated the effects of cardamom extract on hypothyroid male mice. The results showed that cardamom extract was able to reverse the negative hormonal effects of hypothyroidism, leading to a significant increase in serum testosterone levels and improved spermatogenesis. The researchers suggested this was due to the extract stimulating the thyroid gland.
Lead-Exposed Rats: Another study found that a hydroethanolic extract of green cardamom fruit helped normalize serum gonadotropin and testosterone levels in male rats that had been exposed to lead acetate. The researchers hypothesized that the cardamom worked by neutralizing free radicals, thereby protecting the testes from lead's harmful effects.

These findings suggest that cardamom's potent antioxidant properties could help restore hormonal balance in certain pathological conditions where oxidative stress is a factor.

Conflicting and Limited Human Research

Despite the encouraging animal data, direct research on cardamom's impact on testosterone in healthy human males is extremely limited. The few human studies available either focus on women or show no significant effect on testosterone levels:

PCOS in Women: A 2021 clinical trial on obese women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) found that daily green cardamom supplementation improved some androgen hormones, but no notable effect on testosterone was reported in the group receiving cardamom and a low-calorie diet.
Healthy Men: Medical consultation forums and health articles widely conclude that there is currently no strong scientific evidence to suggest that consuming cardamom significantly boosts testosterone levels in healthy men. Claims regarding its ability to cure impotence or massively increase sex drive are generally debunked due to a lack of evidence.

Cardamom vs. Other Herbs for Testosterone


Feature	Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)	Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)	Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Testosterone Effect (Human)	Unproven in healthy males; potential effect in specific disease states (animal studies).	Some human studies show a significant increase in free and total testosterone levels.	Several studies suggest it can increase testosterone levels, particularly by reducing cortisol (the stress hormone).
Mechanism of Action	Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may improve hormonal health indirectly by reducing oxidative stress.	Contains saponins and furostanolic compounds believed to influence hormone production pathways.	Adaptogenic properties help lower stress, which can negatively impact testosterone production.
Primary Traditional Use	Digestive aid, breath freshener, diuretic, and for sexual health.	Culinary spice, traditional medicine for libido and male performance.	Adaptogen for stress reduction, vitality, and hormonal balance.

How Cardamom Can Support Overall Health

While its direct effect on testosterone is unconfirmed, cardamom's broader health benefits may indirectly support hormonal health by promoting overall well-being. These benefits include:

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties: Cardamom is rich in compounds like polyphenols and flavonoids that protect cells from damage caused by oxidative stress. Reducing inflammation can support a healthier endocrine system.
Improved Blood Circulation: The presence of cineole in cardamom is known to increase blood flow, which may support sexual function and overall vitality, even without directly altering testosterone levels.
Enhanced Metabolic Function: Studies have shown that cardamom can help regulate blood sugar levels, improve lipid profiles, and reduce blood pressure, all of which are important for maintaining hormonal balance.
Stress Reduction: By helping to balance cortisol levels, the stress hormone, regular consumption of cardamom may help improve mood and emotional well-being over time. Chronic stress can negatively impact testosterone production.

The Takeaway for Men's Health

For healthy men, relying on cardamom to significantly increase testosterone levels is not supported by current scientific evidence. However, incorporating cardamom into your diet is a safe way to benefit from its many antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. For those experiencing low testosterone due to specific conditions like hypothyroidism or metabolic issues, the animal studies offer an interesting avenue for further research, but should not be taken as proof of efficacy in humans. Always consult a healthcare professional before relying on any supplement for hormone treatment. For more on the effect of cardamom extract on hormonal changes, you can refer to the study published by the National Institutes of Health: Effect of Elettaria cardamomum L. on hormonal changes and testicular tissue following hypothyroidism induction in male BALB/c mice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chewing cardamom has a reputation as an aphrodisiac in traditional medicine. While it contains compounds like cineole that may improve blood circulation, there is no clinical evidence that it significantly increases libido or sex drive in healthy men through hormonal changes.

Yes, some herbs have more supporting research regarding their potential effects on testosterone. Fenugreek and Ashwagandha, for example, have been the subject of studies demonstrating potential benefits for men's hormone levels.

The potential hormonal effects of cardamom observed in animal studies are often linked to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. By reducing cellular damage caused by oxidative stress, it may help restore normal function to organs like the testes, particularly when hormonal balance is already compromised.

Consuming cardamom in moderate amounts as a spice is generally considered safe for most people. However, excessive intake, especially in supplement form, should be discussed with a doctor, particularly if you have gallstones, as it may not be safe.

For a healthy individual, a normal intake of cardamom as a spice is unlikely to have a noticeable or significant effect on testosterone levels. The potent effects seen in some animal studies were conducted using concentrated extracts on compromised subjects.

A clinical trial on women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) found that green cardamom supplementation improved some androgen hormones and metabolic markers. However, this effect is specific to this condition and its related metabolic issues, not a general impact on female hormones.

No, claims that eating cardamom can cure impotence (erectile dysfunction) lack sufficient scientific and medical backing. Impotence is a complex condition with multiple potential causes that require proper medical evaluation and treatment from a healthcare professional.