India’s love for fennel seeds needs no introduction, the seed spice dominates a variety of dishes in our kitchens. A common practice amongst us is to have fennel seeds or saunf at the end of every meal to freshen the mouth, but you might need to give it a second thought. Fennel seeds are a concentrated source of minerals like Potassium, Calcium, Manganese, Zinc, Vitamin C, Copper, Iron, Magnesium and Selenium, which means the age-old practice of having saunf at the end of every meal does much more than simply beat bad breath.
Let’s look at some of the benefits of Fennel seeds:
Helps clear sinus and congested nasal passages
Fennel seeds are a good source of Phytonutrients that works to clear out clogged nasal passages. It helps cure sinus and relieve asthma symptoms. They are also served in the form of a tea for their expectorant properties, which is beneficial for the people suffering from cough, bronchitis and asthma.
Improves digestion
Fennel seed contain fenchone, estragole and anethole oils which help in improving digestion, reduce symptoms of bloating and constipation, and increase metabolism. It’s due to their antispasmodic and carminative effective effects, that these seeds are used to treat an array of digestive ailments including intestinal gas, heartburn, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, ulcerative colitis and even colic in infants.
Regulates blood sugar
A study performed in the year 2008 found out that fennel essential oil is good to manage lower blood sugar level in diabetics. As fennel seeds are a good source of Vitamin C, Beta-carotene, they have been linked to reduce cholesterol levels in patients with type-2 diabetes. It’s also due to their low glycemic index, diabetic patients can incorporate them in their diet.
Regulates blood pressure
As fennel seeds are rich in potassium, which is also an essential component of our body, they are considered to regulate blood pressure and control heart rate. Chewing on saunf helps increase the nitrite content in saliva, making it a natural way to keep a constant check on blood pressure levels. Potassium is also said to be an essential component of cells and body fluids, which in turn means that eating fennel seeds can also help to control your heart rate.
Protects the body from diseases like cancer
These seeds are a rich source of many nutrients which makes them very effective to get rid of free toxins and radicals from the body. It’s due to their powerful free radical scavenging properties which helps them beat oxidative stress and protect the body from various serious diseases like cancer and other neurological diseases.
Helps with weight loss
If you too want to lose weight or even maintain your body weight, consume 2-3 cups of fennel tea on daily basis. Fennel tea is said to boost digestion by improving metabolic rate and flushing out toxins, which makes it the perfect remedy for weight loss.
