Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a plant in the carrot, celery, and parsley family grown for its edible shoots, leaves, and seeds. The seeds extracted from fennel plants have a crunchy texture on the outside with a mildly sweet flavor.
As one of the oldest cultivated plants, fennel has many traditional uses in food and medicine because of its many nutrients.
Fennel is a good source of fiber, potassium, manganese, vitamin E, vitamin K, and vitamin C. It also contains calcium, zinc, iron, folate, and antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin. Used commonly in tea or as a spice, it is an important addition to your diet.
Here are some of the numerous benefits of fennel.
1. Improves eyesight
Fennel seeds contain vitamin A, which helps to improve eyesight. In ancient India, extracts of these seeds were used to improve the symptoms of glaucoma.
2. Eliminates bad breath
Fennel seeds contain a specific aromatic essential oil that possesses antibacterial properties that help to freshen your breath. The sweet fennel seeds increase the secretion of saliva, which helps to kill the harmful bacteria. It is a simple and effective home remedy to combat bad breath. Munching on 5 to 10 fennel seeds could freshen your breath.
3. Relieves constipation and digestion
The goodness of fennel seed essential oils stimulates the secretion of digestive juices and enzymes that improve your digestion. Fennel seeds contain anethole, fenchone, and estragole, which act as antispasmodics and anti-inflammatories. They work wonderfully for constipation, indigestion, and bloating. For better results, consume fennel tea to keep your digestive tract healthy and happy.
4. Helps to regulate blood pressure
Fennel seeds are rich in potassium, which regulates the amount of fluid in the bloodstream. It helps to control your heart rate and blood pressure. According to a study, fennel seeds increase the level of nitrite in the saliva. Nitrite is a natural element that keeps a check on the blood pressure levels.
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5. Aids weight loss
Fennel seeds are rich in fibre and may aid weight loss and keep hunger pangs at bay. They work as diuretics and improve metabolism. Consuming fennel seeds daily with a balanced diet and workout helps you to shed extra pounds quickly. You can have roasted fennel seed powder with warm water on an empty stomach to get better results.
6. Improves skin appearance
Fennel extract works for the skin by protecting it from free radical damage and improving skin cell longevity. They are abundant in minerals such as potassium, selenium, and zinc. These minerals are crucial for balancing hormones while maintaining the oxygen balance in your bloodstream. They are widely used to treat different skin ailments like acne, rashes, and dryness.
7. May reduce menstrual cramps
Increased uterine contractions cause cramps during a woman’s menstrual cycle. Contractions are stimulated by the hormone oxytocin and prostaglandin.
Several human studies suggest that fennel oil may inhibit oxytocin and prostaglandin, reducing uterine contractions and pain during menstruation. In fact, fennel has been found almost as effective as 250 mg of mefenamic acid, an NSAID drug that is commonly used to treat menstrual pain.
8. Fights cancer
Many studies suggest that fennel seeds have anti-cancerous properties. They have powerful antioxidant properties that neutralize the free radicals and beat the oxidative stress. It may be the reason that prevents the development of cancer.
9. Reduces asthma and other respiratory ailments
The high amount of phytonutrients present in fennel seeds helps to clear the sinuses. These tiny seeds offer bronchial relaxation that helps to reduce symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, and congestion.
10. Increases breast size
Fennel seeds are potent when it comes to increasing your breast size, as they contain large amounts of phytonutrients and phytoestrogens. These are hormones like organic compounds that mimic the effects of estrogens on your breasts to increase the size and volume while also causing a significant lift.
Fennel has also been used to increase the supply of milk in nursing women for centuries.