The Health Benefits of Fennel Seed

Sauf: The health benefits of fennel seeds

Do you love the taste of licorice? If you do, you are going to love fennel seeds, too. Guess what! They taste like licorice.

Have you ever had bouts of indigestion after meals? Most people do experience that, at some time in their lives. Many times, the food that we eat is too rich and we wind up with severe abdominal cramps or gas. Feeling bloated can be uncomfortable. When the food in the bowel is not digested properly, a person can have bad breath.

"Do fennel seeds offer a solution to these problems?"

Yes, fennel seeds are healthy for your digestive system and can be used as a breath freshener, at the same time. The green fennel seeds can be chewed directly after meals or oftener, as they are soft and naturally sweet.

The yellow fennel seeds are used in cooking or to make a tea for indigestion, gas, cramps or other related disorders of the digestive system. Fennel helps to increase the production of bile, which is needed to digest food properly. High levels of magnesium are found in fennel seeds. Anethol and Fenchone, as well as other terpenoids, help to relieve smooth muscle spasms in the bowel. Fennel also helps to relieve pain and functions as an anti-microbial and a diuretic. (1)

When chewing fennel seeds, the daily recommended dose is approximately one and a half teaspoons per day or 2-3 grams at one time. (2)

To make fennel seed tea, boil 250 ml of water in a covered pot for about 5 minutes. Add 3 grams or a half teaspoon of fennel seeds. Allow the tea to cool. You may consume 2-3 cups of fennel tea per day. (3)

In India, fennel seeds are used after rich meals, to assist in digestion and as a breath freshener.

Most people in the western world love the taste of licorice, but the salt content in licorice is high. For anyone who is on a low salt diet or totally restricted with salt consumption for whatever reason, consuming large amounts of licorice is not a good idea. This is one area where a person might benefit from chewing fennel seeds or using fennel seeds in cooking or to make tea.

With ongoing intestinal tract problems of any kind, it is advisable to consult a qualified physician regarding appropriate medical treatment when problems persist. Be aware that an excess of fennel seeds can be harmful to a person, while using fennel seeds in an appropriate manner, may prove to be beneficial to one's health.

(1) http://www.healthandyoga.com/html/product/fennel.html

(2) Ibid.

(3) Ibid.