If you were given a box full of spices, would you be able to recognize fennel seeds instantly? Even if you would, would you also know that fennel is actually a vegetable?
More than fifty percent of people in the world aren’t aware of fennel being a prominent member of the vegetable family. It’s a part of the carrot family and can be eaten in a variety of ways. You can have it as a vegetable, or consume its seeds, or add it as a herb to any dish.
If you haven’t tried fennel yet, believe us, you’re missing out on a whole other world of flavor. And to tip the scales further in this veggie’s favor, we’ve prepared this post describing some cool facts about it. Stay tuned to find out more.
Health benefits of consuming fennel
Fennel is a powerhouse vegetable that’s abundantly rich in vitamins like calcium, phosphate, iron, and zinc. It helps in making bones stronger while maintaining their structure and production.
The potassium present in fennel is essential for vasodilation and reducing blood pressure. An average adult needs 4,700 mg of potassium daily, and this can easily be fulfilled by consuming this superfood. According to research, people who consume 4,069 mg of fennel regularly have a 49% lower risk of dying from heart problems than people who use 1,793 mg.
Moreover, a rare-found mineral named Selenium is present naturally in the fennel. It helps in detoxifying cancer-causing compounds from our body and also decreases the growth of tumors. Fennel is a rich source of Choline and Vitamin B-6. While B-6 helps in breaking down carbohydrates into simpler forms like amino acids and glucose for enhancing metabolism, Choline helps in the absorption of fat, maintaining the cellular structure of cell membranes, and improving memory.
Read – Health benefits of apple?
How effective is fennel for women?
This vegetable contains estrogen in natural form. Estrogen plays an important role in determining fertility and regulating the reproductive cycle in women, especially those who are close to menopause and are witnessing increased abdominal weight gain due to low estrogen levels.
Research shows that fennel extracts help in reducing the effect of premenstrual syndrome, which is a common disease found in two out of five women. Moreover, raw fennel is packed with Vitamin C. So, it’s effective for women with skin problems. Vitamin C is known for supporting collage, which helps in improving the texture of skin by reducing wrinkles.
How can we use fennel?
Fennel has a mild, sweet taste with a licorice-like aroma. It can be eaten raw or cooked. You can add it to your salads or soups or consume it directly. Fennel extracts can also be used for adding flavor to desserts. Fennel seeds, on the other hand, have a strong aromatic flavor, so they’re mostly used as a seasoning.
Read – Health benefits of pumpkin seeds
Wrapping it up
Even with an abundant source of information in our hands (a smartphone with internet), we stay unaware of numerous beneficial fruits and vegetables. Nature has bestowed several gems like fennel on us which can give us nutrients in a natural way. So why switch to artificial supplements?