Fennel is native to Southern Europe and this herbaceous plant reaches up to 2 meters. In general, fennel seeds closely similar to anise seeds in appearance over their surface. Fennel seed has been revered as Anglo-Saxon sacred herbs for conventional health benefits. Fennel is a member of the carrot. Like other carrot, fennel grows stalks which sit clusters. In some place, fennel seeds are eaten as a freshener.
What is fennel seed?
Fennel is a perennial with yellow flowers. It is grow natively in Mediterranean, but it can be found now throughout the world. Fennel seed mostly use in cooking as flavored spice. Another function, fennel also use in medicinal problem.
Fennel used for digestive condition like intestinal gas, heartburn, and boating. It is also used for respiratory problem like cholera, bronchitis, cough, and visual problems. Many women using fennel to add the milk flow, prevent menstrual problem, and sometime to boost sex drive. It also main material in the alcohol absinthe, even the plant doesn’t have hallucinogenic agent.
Fennel seed nutrition
The reason as medicinal values, fennel has many benefit vitamins, minerals, nutrients, etc. The fennel seeds may says as the storehouse to many vitamins. Vitamin A, E, C and B-complex are concentrated in these seeds.
Health benefits of fennel seed
There are numerous health benefits of fennel seed, due the essential oils components.
1. Anti-oxidant
Fennel seed exist anti-oxidant material inside it. These chemical has function removes free radicals from the body and protect from aging, infection, cancers, and neurological diseases. fennel seed has numerous health benefits, first thing it works as a antioxidant. The seed reduces unwanted radical in the body and prevent any diseases which can lead to serious stage. the antioxidant that contains in these seed is quercetin and kaemoferol are known to fight degenerative reactions and useful too in prevent ageing.
2. Reduce digestive problem
Fennel seed is rich of dietary fiber that helps increase part of the food by absorbing liquid throughout the digestive system and eased constipation condition. Fennel seed is most commonly used to treat flatulence and to reduce gases inside the stomach.
3. Protect the colon from cancer
Dietary fiber bind cholesterol and reduce their colon absorption. It helps lower cholesterol levels. With anti-oxidants, fennel fiber helps protect the colon from cancers. fennel seed extract is quite impressive to cancer protection. It knows that the extract can not only prevent the tumors growth, but it can plays as protection against the radiation effects during treating cancer. Fennel seed has known to be protection of numerous cancers.
4. Produce red blood cell
Fennel seed was contained many minerals like iron, zinc, copper, manganese, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Copper is stimulates the red blood production. Iron is stimulates red blood formation. Zinc is stimulates red blood growth and developed. Potassium is an important property that helps control blood pressure. Manganese is powerful anti-oxidant.
5. Beats and breath
Taking a fennel seeds will refresh your breath, especially get rid of bad breath. The antimicrobial compound tackle the germs that causing bad breathing. The antibacterial compound also soothe sore gums. Chewing a little of fennel seed will sweeten your breath and reduce of bad breath. In addition, you can use a lukewarm fennel tea to rinse your mouth diminish bad breath.
6. Aid digestion
Fennel is beneficial to relieve digestion condition such as indigestion, flatulence, bloating, heartburn, constipation, colic, and even irritable bowel. This herb soothe the digestive tract and prevent the gas formed. Moreover, it help repair the digestive system after chemotherapy. So, when suffer from indigestion, you can drink fennel tea or fennel seed powder with water twice a day.
7. Reduce water retention
Regularly drink a fennel tea helps flush out fluids from the body as diuretic. You can relieve puffy eyes by apply strong fennel tea beneath your eyes. To prevent and relieve water retention, fennel helps reduce toxins and urinary problems. In addition, fennel has diaphoretic component that will provide perspiration.
8. Reduce obesity
Fennel is powerful to fight obesity and creates a fullness feeling. Fennel plays by boosting the metabolism and breaking fats. Fennel helps relieve water retention because diuretic, which is stimulate weight gain. Fennel seed contains various of dietary fiber that has essential function to the body. The fiber material helps fix digestion in the body, by breaking food molecules to create an energy.
9. Prevent cancer
Fennel helps decrease the colon cancer risk to develop because it removes carcinogenic toxins. This herb has an anti-inflammation that effecting on anti-cancer. A study found this phytonutrient could stop breast cancer from grow. Moreover, fennel seed has an anti-inflammation called anethole that helps reduce carcinogenic toxins and has anti-cancer effects. Other compound such as limonene and quercetin exist in this ingredient also has anticarcinogenic effects.
10. Reduce menstrual problem
Many factors may affect in menstrual cycle. Fennel seed has emmenagogue chemical that promote menstrual flow. The phytoestrogens in fennel seed can help issue related premenstrual condition and menopausal diseases. A study by researchers indicates that fennel can help diminish painful menstruation. Fennel traditionally used to promote lactation in mothers. Traditionally, fennel seed is also used to soothe pain reducer and relaxing women with menopausal.
11. Cure respiratory illness
Fennel contains expectorant properties that help reduce respiratory infections. Fennel seed is useful way to treat any respiratory disorders like cough, congestion, bronchitis, etc. due to its expectorant component. When suffer a cough and throat problem, you can drink fennel tea twice a day.
12. Prevent cardio problem
Fennel can relieve the risk cardio problem to grow. The potassium helps lowering blood pressure that potentially changes into a benign form. Fennel root is contains dietary fiber that helps to control cholesterol spread.
13. Stimulate healthy eye
Researchers have found that fennel can help relieve pressure on eye. It also helps to treat glaucoma, that associated to vision disease. Another researcher revealed that fennel seeds contained a compound that prevents vision loss. You can get these benefits by drink fennel tea.
14. Improve brain function
Fennel seed helps as a brain booster. Studies revealed that fennel seed helps increase cognitive performance. Fennel has high levels of potassium, which improved electrical conduction, stimulating to healthy brain and cognitive capabilities.
15. Reduce colitis
Early studies suggest that consuming fennel and combine like dandelion, calendula, and lemon balm, can reduce pain in people with colon swelling.
16. Constipation
Studies found that drinking daily of fennel tea that combine with elderberry, anise, can reduce constipation. Fennel seeds can act as a laxative. It helps clear the bowels and helps maintain the proper peristaltic motion. Fennel mostly found in medicines to treat abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc.
17. Painful menstruation
Some study suggests that daily consuming fennel extract can reduce painful menstruation called dysmenorrhea. Fennel is also eases and regulates menstruation. Fennel is used to relieve the PMS effect and for menopausal women.
18. Reduce hirsutism
Another study reveals that using fennel cream for three months reduce hair on women body hair.
19. Cure constipation
Fennel seeds can act as a laxative in the powdered form. This medicine will helps to clear the bowels, and works to maintain the peristaltic motion. Laxative will also help provide precise excretion through bile production. That’s why, fennel seed commonly used in medicines to treat diarrhea, abdominal pain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and other.
20. Reduce effect sunburn
Applying fennel to the skin before ultraviolet exposure can diminish sunburn effect. Use this treatment as long as you want to go out.
21. Colic
Polymeric in fennel seed is useful in Renal Colic treatment. Another chemical compound called Phytoestrogens also found in the essential oil inside fennel seed. This fennel component makes helpful in Colic treatment. Fennel seed has antispasmodic property that helps to relax muscles and relieve with associated condition.
22. Treat anemia
Iron and amino acid which existed in the fennel seeds, are helpful to treat anemia. Iron is the hemoglobin constituent, histidine provide to hemoglobin production and helps in various blood components to form. fennel seed is helpful to cure an anemia.
23. Reducing inflammation
The components inside fennel seed is essential oils are stimulate digestive secretion. It reducing inflammation of the stomach and facilitating nutrients absorption from food. It can remove constipation and protect the body from troubles. Fennel has already known to relieve an inflammation and helps to protect eyes from conditions associated to aging, like degeneration.
24. Anti-flatulent
Fennel is popular as anti-flatulent, caused by carminative properties found in fennel. Its extract can be used as a way to remove flatulence and expelling stomach gas. Fennel seed mostly used to relieve flatulence both in infants and children and non-ulcer dyspepsia symptoms.
25. Heart disease
Fennel is a great fiber sources, it also helps keep the blood stream healthy. This means trigger the cholesterol elimination, which is lead to heart disease, and strokes. it also works to keep cholesterol level stay healthy. This mean can eliminate damaged cholesterol, which is lead in strokes and heart disease.
26. Prevent breast cancer
The fennel seed extract has been studied relating cancer protection is impressive. The extract will not only avoid the tumor to grow, but it can protect during cancer treatment. Fennel seed extract has revealed to prevent various liver cancer and breast cancer.
27. Blood pressure
Fennel is rich of potassium, which is vital nutrient for important process. Potassium plays as a vasodilator, which relaxes the blood tension by diminishing blood pressure. Blood pressure is related to health issues, like heart attack, and stroke. and, for patients with diabetic conditions, high blood pressure can make glucose and insulin very difficult to manage. This condition can lead many potential complications. A cup of fennel seed in your diet program will increase potassium.
28. Brain Function
High levels of Potassium can be found in fennel bulbs and seeds. Potassium is an electrolyte, which increased electrical conduction in the body. Potassium helps to improve brain function and cognitive abilities. Fennel also supplies oxygen to the brain to work at optimal function. This includes brain connections which is electric switchboard. fennel seed is a vasodilator too, it means if the oxygen reach the brain in a big amunt, then neural activity works in maximal functionality.
29. Antibacterial
Some special components in fennel seed which is essential oil has antibacterial and disinfectant properties. Fennel is commonly used over the world as mouth fresheners, antacid remedies and toothpastes.
30. Diarrhea
Fennel seed has essential oil in the inside, and the essential oil contain cineole and anetol. This two compund have a same function as antibacterial and disinfectant. Fennel helps in treat diarrhea because the essential oil has antibacterial and disinfectant properties. An amino acids can aid the function of the digestive system, and eliminate diarrhea. Fennel has been used as a way to remove diarrhea and helps treat diarrhea that lead to indigestion.
31. Immune System
Fennel is element of diet. Vitamin-C increases immune system, repairs and produces skin layer, stimulated collagen formed, also protects the blood vessel. The antioxidant fights the free radical effects. 1 cup of fennel exists of vitamin-C that body needs daily. This vitamin makes fennel seed is beneficial component of our diet. Vitamin-C leads immune system, also repairs skin layer, produces collagen, and gives protection to the blood vessel. The antioxidant fight the free radicals effects that can affected to heart disease.
32. Breast Enlargement
Flavonoid can increase the estrogen amount. Fennel seeds helps increase the breasts size by stimulate the new cells formation and the breast tissues. Daily consuming a fennel tea on a same basis may improve the production of breast milk in mothers and cleaning out toxins from the body. The flavonoids act as a tonic and stimulant. Fennel helps improve the breasts size by formed a tissue and new cells in the breast.
33. Eye Care
Using fennel helps eyes protection, and reduces disorders related to macular degeneration. This is due to antioxidants which has benefit for skin rejuvenation and prevent from aging. Fennel juice can be applied on the eyes to reduce fatigue and eye irritation. This is due essential oil in fennel seed, like magnesium and cobalt.
34. Respiratory Disorders
Fennel is workful in respiration disorders such bronchitis and cough by Anetol and Cineole component. Fennel seeds powder can help fade phlegm, toxins loosening and eliminate respiratory conditions. This component also build the throat and nasal passages for recovery from respiratory disorder.
35. Bone health
Fennel seed helps prevent osteoporosis. Using this ingredient every day for six weeks can prevent bone break. Studies revealed that the bone-strengthening may be due to fennel ability to inhibit activity of bone-destroying cells.
36. Ocular pressure reduction
Chemical properties in fennel seed may stimulate healthy circulation, according to a study in 2012. Studies found that fennel seeds stimulate blood dilation. They noted that fennel contains nitrites higher than other seeds.
37. Skin glowing
Fennel seed is providing numerous vitamins to serve your skin that give you a younger skin. Fennel tea, if consumed on a daily routinely, helps to improve the skin texture as it cures acne and makes the skin look glowing and flawless. Besides that, fennel seed is also make hair stronger, avoid hair lossen, and has cooling effect. This can be applied with little sugar and salt.
How to make fennel tea?
While the cost of fennel seeds is often quite expensive rather than loose tea, most people like to make their own fennel tea at home. Here’s how:
- Get a handful of fennel seed, surely ones with high volatile oil content.
- Crush up 1 to 2 tablespoons of the seeds with a mortar and pestle.
- Put the crushed seeds in a large mug and pour a cup hot water over it (turn off the kettle before it boils).
- Cover and steep for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Strain and enjoy, perhaps with a small amount of honey.
If you prefer the convenience of tea bags this fennel tea mostly good for digestion condition and most people seem really enjoy the taste.
Fennel seed Uses
- Medicinal uses. Fennel has used as a treatment for indigestion and flatulence. Fennel seed decoction has been revealed to improve breast milk in mothers. Fennel water rarely uses in newborn babies to reduce colic pain. Fennel seed also used to reduce bronchitis, coughs and oil to massage pain in joint. Fennel powder uses for snakebites as a poultice.
- Culinary uses. Fennel seed gives sweet aroma when rubbed in fingers. That’s why, many people use this ingredients as culinary flavor. Fennel is mostly ground for any dishes or gently toasted before using them in a recipe. Simple way to stimulate weight loss with fennel is to dry roast, and mix the powder with warm water then consumes twice a day.
Side effect of fennel seed
- People who allergic to celery and carrot are also be allergic to fennel. Fennel makes skin extra sensitive and it easier to get sunburn. Fennel may cause an allergic to people who are sensitive to these ingredients.
- Fennel components besides being benefit, can be dangerous if taken in large quantity. The compounds which kill bacteria and microbes can be harmful for you too. Use fennel may affect difficult breath, palpitations, abnormal heartbeat, and neural conditions.
- During breast-feeding is not safe to use fennel seed. Fennel is lead to damage nervous systems and it’s been proved.
- Fennel may slower blood clotting. Consuming fennel can improve the bleeding risk for people with this disorder.
- Fennel is not appropriate for people during seizure medication.
- Fennel seed must be avoided in excess doses. Fennel Compounds may become toxic in higher concentrations and causing hallucinations.
- Estragole is one of the essential oils in fennel seeds, might stimulate cancer forms. Benzene, inside of estragole, is harmful and causes leukemia and anemia.
- Consumed in fennel seed considered quite safe, even it may interfere with the antibiotics absorption.