People choose fennel for its licorice-like flavor and health benefits. Ancient practitioners used fennel in natural remedies, and this practice continues. A Mediterranean herb now popular worldwide, fennel is also a concentrated source of minerals such as copper, potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin C, iron, and selenium.
Benefits of fennel:
- Bone health: Fennel contains vitamins and minerals that maintain bone structure and strength by:
- Phosphate and calcium for bone building.
- Iron and zinc for collagen production.
2. Blood Pressure Treatment: The dietary nitrates found in fennel and other foods have vasodilatory and vasoprotective properties. Because of this, they help lower blood pressure and protect the heart. The fiber in fennel reduces the risk of heart disease because it helps reduce the total amount of cholesterol in the blood.
3. Cancer: Selenium is a mineral found in fennel but not in most other fruits and vegetables (it's also found primarily in Brazil nuts and animal proteins). It contributes to liver enzyme function and helps detoxify certain cancer-causing compounds in the body. Selenium can also prevent inflammation and reduce tumor growth rates.
4. Digestion and Regularity: The fiber content in fennel helps prevent constipation and promotes digestive regularity.
5. Fennel helps relieve pain caused by irritable bowel syndrome.
6. It helps reduce the severity of psychological illnesses that afflict humans, and it is also considered a natural antidepressant.
7. It aids weight loss by suppressing appetite and eliminating food cravings. Because of its ability to reduce fat storage, fennel is 90% water, making it low in calories: 100 grams of fresh fennel contains 25 calories.
8. It is used on the skin to treat excessive body hair growth in women, vaginal problems after menopause, and to prevent sunburn.
- Important tips:
- Fennel is not recommended for those with allergies due to the possibility of oral allergies.
- Pregnant women should avoid eating fennel because it can stimulate the uterine muscle and cause frequent contractions, especially during the first months of pregnancy.
It's important to remember that no single food can prevent disease and improve overall health, but a varied and nutritious diet can help build good health.