In addition to keeping bad breath away, it is good for your heart, digestion, eyesight and a natural pain reliever for women enduring menstrual cramps. These are just few of the compelling reasons for you to keep a jar of sweet tasting fennel seeds in your kitchen cabinet. Known for its digestive and aromatic qualities, fennel is consumed post meal in the orient. A single source of necessary minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, Vitamins A and C, and iron, read on to know the many benefits of this magic spice that is fennel.
1) Mitigates Imbalances In The Doshas
According to one of the most ancient healing modalities-Ayurveda-life is made up of Panchamahabhutas or the Five Great Elements- air, water, fire, earth, and space. Each individual is a unique complex of these elements. These elements combine uniquely to form an individual’s body constitution. Doshas are the three combinations of these elements. Vata (Air and Space), Pitta (Fire) and Kapha (Earth) are the three bio-elements in the body. Each individual has a particular constitution and a balance of these three in the body. Any imbalance in them over a prolonged period of time can lead to uneasiness, weakness or disease.
Use of fennel in your diet as well as in your essential oils, mitigates the imbalances in the Vata and Pitta.
2) Keeps A Check On Your Blood Pressure
The seeds help control your blood pressure levels and are a good source of dietary nitrate that helps keep the blood pressure on the lower side.
3) Helps Reduce Water Retention in The Body
Chewing on fennel seeds or drinking fennel tea can help purge excess water content in your body since it has diuretic qualities.
4) Reduces Pain Symptoms During Menstrual Cramps
Here is the good news for women. You probably crave chocolate but did you know that according to Ayurveda, fennel seed is Yonishoolanut, that is, useful in relieving menstrual pain.
4) Has Antispasmodic And Anti-inflammatory Properties
The essential oil made from it contains estragole, fenchone and anethole-organic compounds that provide it with its flavor and aroma. These oils also produce gastric enzymes that support a healthy digestion. This is the reason why people in Asia like to finish their meals with having some fennel seeds post meal, not just because of its mouth freshening properties but also because of its gastrointestinal and carminative gifts. This is why it is known as a remedy for balancing Vata or the air and space element.
5) Blood purifier
Fennel seeds help flush out toxins from the body and purify the blood.
6) Better Eyesight
Rich source of Vitamin A, fennel is also good for your eye sight. In Ayurveda it is known to help treat glaucoma.
7) Natural Cooling Agent
Fennel seeds have a cooling and sweet effect on the body. It balances Vata in the body. Balanced Vata brings clarity and stability in mind; keeps you centered and help you have deeper meditations if you are a spiritual seeker.
