Clearly fennel bulb and seeds have many culinary uses and provide a subtle and delicious aniseed flavour, particularly in the case of the seeds. However, the uses of this wonderful herb do not end there – healthy nutrition and fennel go hand in hand, providing a wide range of potential health benefits through its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
So, what are fennel’s nutritional benefits and how may they impact your natural health and well-being – helping to keep you away from the dreaded visit to a doctor and the inevitable consequence of being poisoned by Big Pharma’s products?
Healthy nutrition and fennel – this is truly a wonder herb!
These benefits include the following:
Exceptionally high nutritional value
In addition to being highly nutritious both fennel bulb and its seeds have the added bonus of a low calorific value.
Fennel is a good source of the following:
• Vitamin C – this acts as a potent antioxidant as well as being essential for tissue repair and the health of the immune system
• Essential minerals – this includes manganese, calcium, potassium and magnesium. In addition to a number of important functions these minerals are essential for bone health
• Insoluble fibre – this promotes a healthy digestive system and acts to prevent constipation
Contains potent and beneficial plant-based compounds
Fennel contains many potent plant compounds, particularly antioxidants – these include the polyphenol antioxidants chlorogenic acid, quercetin and apigenin.
These volatile and potent compounds act as anti-inflammatory agents. They have been shown in studies to significantly lower the risk of developing such chronic conditions as cardiovascular disease, cancers and type 2 diabetes.
Other compounds include anethole which has been shown to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties in addition to being anti-inflammatory.
Promotes heart health
Fennel bulbs and seeds contain high levels of insoluble fibre – this reduces levels of blood cholesterol thereby controlling a heart disease risk factor.
Additionally, fennel is a rich source of essential minerals such as potassium, magnesium and calcium – these are important for preventing high blood pressure and for that reason are essential for cardiovascular health.
Protection against a number of cancers
This rich source of powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories exerts a protective effect against certain cancers.
A case in point is the polyphenol compound anethole – a study found that in vitro anethole was found to suppress the growth of human breast cancer cells and to stimulate their programmed cell death (apoptosis).
Further studies have concluded that fennel seed extract may be protective against liver and breast cancer.
To gain the benefits of fennel, why not try incorporating raw sliced fennel bulb in salads and using fennel seeds in soups, curries and baked foods?
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