Yet not so much attracts: it is hard, a little 'woody and not particularly tasty, but in truth there are many recipes to make it pleasant and after knowing him for good will find out why it is important to eat more often fennel.
Fennel: general characteristics
Foeniculum vulgare is its botanical name (from Latin foenum = hay for the appearance of the leaves). It is a herbaceous plant, Apiaceae, which grows spontaneously, annual or biennial. Its stem can reach 80 cm, the leaves are thick and similar green hay, while the flowers are yellow umbels that bloom in summer. The fruits are inaccurately called seeds.
The edible part of the Fennel is the white part that develops at the base, but you can also use the fruits, flowers and buds.
fennel varieties
The varieties are two:
- wild
- horticultural
The second is the one that is grown for food consumption.
History and facts
Do you know why they say a fool someone?
The first cellar to taste a wine, offering slices of fennel, because it seems to have aromatic substances that can make even a good tasty cheap wine or who has almost become vinegar.
Since ancient times, fennel, is known as aromatic plant and its cultivation for the table will be started only in the '500. Later it is discovered its medicinal properties and only later began to cultivate it. It is assumed that it was even known to the Egyptians as a digestif, while in India it worked to aphrodisiacs filters and against snake bites. Few people know that however in the Middle Ages there was the belief that it could be a remedy against the bills.
Male or female? The male fennel is distinctive in that it is elongated while the female is round. The male is also less fibrous and meatier.
How do I know if a fennel is fresh or not? The white part bulbous must be compact, the fresh leaves and a bright color.
How to store it? Fennel is kept in the refrigerator in a perforated bag or you can freeze fast after boiling.
The fruits 'seeds' of fennel are harvested in late August or middle of September and should be dried in the fresh, not in the sun, then you shake the parasols of the flowers and gather the "seeds" in glass jars. The "beard" or the tender leaves may be felt both in spring and in autumn.
Fennel: properties and health benefits
The main property now everybody knows, helps digestion. But there is much more, let's start by nutritional values.
This plant contains:
- mineral salts (potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, copper, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese and selenium);
- vitamins (A, B, B6, B1, B2, B3, C, E and C);
- fibers;
- essential oils ;
- flavonoids
- phytoestrogens;
- amino acids
- galactagogue, which stimulates the milk supply in nursing mothers;
- digestive, fennel helps to digest but also eliminate the swollen belly due to gas accumulation;
- emmenagogue, it helps regulate the menstrual cycle due to phytoestrogens;
- prevent breast cancer;
- It improves liver function;
- antispasmodic, which eliminates painful spasms of the abdomen;
- It improves the function of the nervous system;
- inflammatory;
- purifying, helps the body get rid of toxins;
- diuretic, being rich in water promotes diuresis and combat water retention;
- carminative, prevents bloating;
- antiemetic;
- It reduces the problems associated with irritable bowel syndrome;
- Antiflatulent , since it inhibits the fermentation of food in the intestine;
- antioxidant, being rich in flavonoids fight the devastating effects of free radicals;
- immunostimulant, strengthens the immune system;
- It helps against the cough;
- It regulates blood pressure, prevents the risk of stroke and heart attack;
- anti-anemic, to prevent and to combat anemia as rich in iron and vitamin C;
- It protects the brain;
- preserve healthy vision;
- It reduces renal colic due to anethole;
- it helps to control the level of cholesterol in the blood;
- is an ally of the skin due to vitamin C and the antioxidant substances.
Fennel: all uses
In addition to being eaten raw in salads, or boiled and baked, fennel can be used as a natural remedy for various ailments.
The herbal tea is certainly the best known natural remedy made from fennel. But to use they can do?
You can drink for:
- promote diuresis;
- soothe inflammatory processes;
- deflate belly and stomach;
- digest;
- promote good rest and loosen stress;
- calm the spasms in case of colitis or painful cycle;
- counter headache;
- decrease or prevent flatulence;
- soothe coughs.
Recipe of herbal tea with fennel:
1 teaspoon fennel seeds;
1 jug of water;
Put to boil the fennel seeds in water for about ten minutes, strain and drink after meals or before going to bed.
the diuretic herbal tea recipe
leaves of the lettuce waste;
Orange peel;
dandelion leaves or stalks of cherries;
stems or leaves of fennel waste.
Put everything to boil for about twenty minutes, filter and drink after meals. Amounts to be agreed with your doctor.
Soothing herbal tea against cough
stems and leaves of fennel
Boil for ten minutes, strain, add honey and drink. Amounts to be agreed with your doctor.
Raw fennel instead? It 'a great natural remedy for:
- counteract spikes in blood sugar or high cholesterol;
- lose weight, because it contains no calories;
- improve bowel;
- digest;
- soften and clean the mouth;
- promote milk supply;
- avoid bloating and flatulence after meals.
Fennel: contraindications and side effects
Fennel apparently seems to have no contraindications, it is actually not recommended in early life for essential oil via it contains. It may also involve, in sensitive individuals, hives at the mouth (who is allergic to apples for example should also avoid fennel).
, Do not take the herbal tea of fennel seeds for long periods. Finally the dry extract of this plant can reduce the effect of antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin.
WARNING: This article has informative value, is therefore not considered a prescription. Consult your primary care physician before taking any natural remedy.
What do you think of all these properties of fennel? What other natural remedies to know the basis of fennel?
