Fennel or Saunf as many know has many health benefits
If you’ve never tried fennel now is the
time to try this uniquely aromatic and flavorful vegetable, reminiscent
of anise. A brief introduction to its many nutritional benefits may make
it the most desirable addition to almost every salad and dish you
prepare because it is simply a treasure trove of health.
Unlike its seeds used for seasoning, fennel looks like a bulb, even
though it doesn’t grow in the dirt. Most importantly, it has special
abilities to protect you from anemia, cancer, aging, bone fractures,
heart attacks, infections and more. In addition to all of these, it is
also an excellent diet food! So keep an open mind (and mouth) when
learning about fennel in the following article.
1. Prevents anemia
Iron and amino acid histidine, which are found in fennel, are two
essential substances that fight anemia. While iron encourages the
production of hemoglobin in the blood, histidine helps produce red blood
cells and is therefore important in preventing anemia and encouraging
oxygen supply to the tissues.
2. Helps digestion
In Indian culture, it is customary to chew fennel seeds after meals to
help digestion and prevent bad breath. Fennel, filled with dietary
fiber, relieves digestive problems such as abdominal cramps, gas, and
constipation. One fennel has about 7 grams of dietary fiber, which is
about 28 percent of the recommended daily intake. The fennel plant also
reduces acidity in the stomach and intestines and helps in better
absorption of nutrients found in the food we consume. The aspartic acid
that is preserved is one that actually absorbs gases, so fennel is
especially recommended for anyone who feels bloated after a meal.
3. Prevents heart disease and stroke
As noted above, fennel contains a large amount of dietary fiber, and
besides the benefit it gives to our digestive system, it also
contributes to the protection of heart health. The reason for this is
that the fibers reduce the level of bad cholesterol in the blood and,
indirectly, also the risk of heart disease and stroke resulting from
blocked blood vessels. Aside from its fiber content, fennel contains
vitamins C and B as well, which also help your body keep your heart
healthy.
4. Balances blood pressure
Fennel has a large amount of potassium, an essential mineral in our
body, whose benefits are connected to vascular expansion. This means
that eating fennel helps reduce the pressure exerted on blood vessels,
thereby reducing blood pressure itself. Because of this effect, it can
be said that fennel protects us from heart disease, stroke, and
atherosclerosis, partly because of the potassium in it. For diabetics,
this advantage is especially important since high blood pressure makes
it difficult for them to regulate their insulin and glucose levels.
5. Improves brain function
Fennel not only helps our body but also our ability to think. The same
potassium, which helps us to control blood pressure and prevent heart
disease and stroke, is an electrolyte that also helps in the electrical
transmission of the body, including the important electrical processes
that occur in the brain. Potassium helps our cognitive functioning, that
is, our ability to think and understand. In addition, the contribution
of potassium to the expansion of blood vessels allows more oxygen to
reach the brain, so don’t be surprised if you feel sharper and smarter
after having a bite of fennel.
6. Strengthens the immune system
One cup of chopped fennel contains 20% of the recommended daily intake
of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an essential and natural antioxidant that
strengthens our immune system and protects our body from inflammation,
heart disease, and various cancers. Vitamin C is also one of the
partners in the production of collagen in the body - an essential
protein for the production of connective tissues and soft tissues that
protect us against pollutants.
7. Regulates menstruation and encourages the production of breast milk
Fennel also has female-only benefits, thanks to phytoestrogen molecules,
which help to balance the female hormonal system. Components of fennel
are used in a variety of pre-menstrual treatments, and its consumption
as a vegetable will help you cope with the symptoms of menopause and the
lack of estrogen. For those pregnant and breastfeeding, fennel is also
known as a vegetable that helps to produce breast milk in cases where
mothers suffer from a lack of it.
8. Improves vision
Fennel's benefits also touch on our vision, as the vegetable protects
the eyes from inflammation and helps prevent premature aging of vision
and macular degeneration. The antioxidants in fennel, derived from
vitamin C and amino acids such as arginine, are very effective in
renewing tissues and preventing damage to vision associated with the
effects of age. You can consume the vegetable as it is or juice it and
place it on the eyes using cotton rounds to reduce irritation and a look
of fatigue. Fennel also contains flavonoids, other antioxidants known
to protect vision.
9. Protects bone health
Fennel has a great amount of calcium that helps maintain healthy bones
and teeth and prevents bone depletion - osteoporosis, a skeletal disease
that is the most common cause of fractures in older age. Apart from
calcium, fennel also contains a high amount of magnesium, phosphorus and
vitamin K, all of which have additional benefits and important roles in
protecting the health and strength of bones in the body.
10. Reduces inflammation
Fennel is a powerful anti-inflammatory plant thanks to Anethole, which
is a phytochemical found in the plant responsible for its unique smell
and flavor. This component prevents the development of inflammatory
processes and also the development of carcinogenesis, which is the
primary stage in the development of cancerous cells. Fennel is highly
recommended for consumption to prevent diseases, and also as a natural
treatment if you experience gum infections or urinary tract infections.
11. Improves skin appearance
It turns out that fennel helps us feel good inside and also looks good
on the outside. Its vitamin C content helps prevent premature aging of
the skin and encourages the production of collagen that protects our
skin and gives it volume and a youthful appearance. Generally, a
sufficient intake of vitamin C reduces the formation of wrinkles and
keeps our skin tighter, and as you are about to discover in the next
section, fennel helps with this for another reason.
12. Helps weight loss
Many of the products we purchase in order to lose weight are based on
increasing the sense of satiety and suppressing the desire for sweet and
salty foods. Fennel can help you do this naturally, along with
significant savings in financial expenses, while helping your body and
improving your health in the various ways described so far. The secret
of its magic lies in the high amount of dietary fiber it contains which
intensifies and extends the sense of satiety after eating.
Studies have shown that people who added 14 grams of dietary fiber to
their diet, without changing anything else, ate 10 percent fewer
calories a day and dropped 4 pounds after 4 months. In average fennel
which weighs roughly ½ a pound, there are about 7 grams of fiber, which
means that eating 2 servings a day may help you shed extra pounds of
your weight in a short time. Just make sure not to exceed the
recommended daily intake of 25 grams of fiber.