Fennel is a cooling spice with a sweet-bitter taste and is loaded with vitamin C
Fennel seeds or saunf i one essential item found in almost every household in India. Not only does it taste good but also helps aid in digestion and promotes good gut health. According to experts, fennel is a cooling spice with a sweet-bitter taste and is loaded with great essential nutrients like vitamin C.
Chewing some seeds of fennel, especially after meals, is considered to be good for digestion, apart from many other major health benefits. According to Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a Harvard and Stanford-trained gastroenterologist, he makes sure to eat fennel every time after meals. Here’s why.
Stimulate the release of digestive enzymes
Fennel seeds are loaded with fibre in their tiny forms. A tablespoon of dried seeds provides 2.3 grams of fibre, which is way more than you can find in one apple. According to studies, fibre is key in reducing bloating, the most commonly caused symptom of excessive gas.
Saunf also contains insoluble fibres, which reduce the amount of gas produced in your gut and associated symptoms like farting or flatulence. “The release of digestive enzymes helps relieve bloating after a heavy meal,” said Dr. Sethi on his Instagram channel.
They eliminate bad breath
Chewing fennel seeds is considered a top-effective natural remedy for eliminating bad breath. These seeds help freshen your breath by stimulating saliva production. Saunf contains aromatic oils that help combat odour-causing bacteria in your mouth.
Just chew a spoonful of fennel seeds every time after you finish your food, and you will notice an immediate difference in oral hygiene. “They have a natural aroma that freshens your breath,” he said.
They relieve acidity
Fennel seeds have an alkaline effect on your body, helping neutralize excess stomach acid, which is a common cause of acidity and heartburn. “Fennel seeds soothe the GI tract and help alleviate heartburn and GIRD symptoms,” Dr. Sethi added.
Once you chew saunf, you will begin to feel the carminative properties and see how symptoms of acidity, like gas and bloating, get relieved instantly. Studies say a chemical in fennel known as anethole relaxes the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.
They relax the stomach muscles
Fennel seeds are the best and most effective aid to digestion. They help prevent painful and annoying abdominal cramps as well.
These help the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal system relax and reduce indigestion. People have used it as a laxative for thousands of years.
Other ways to use fennel seeds
Apart from chewing them after every meal, as Dr. Sethi suggested, you can also use fennel in various other ways to strengthen your digestive and gut health. Fennel seeds are packed with higher concentrations of oil than the plant. And so, you would need only between 1 teaspoon and 1 tablespoon of dried, whole fennel seeds in most recipes.
Some ways to include fennel seeds in your diet include:
- Making tea with fennel seeds
- Adding toasted fennel seeds to dishes to give them a sweet, licorice flavour
- Adding seeds to batter for baked goods
- Taking fennel supplements
Before cooking or brewing fennel tea, make sure to crush or grind whole fennel seeds just before using them, as it helps release more of the oil and flavour.
Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Diet, Health and around the world.
