How fennel can be good for the body!
A perennial herbaceous plant, similar to dill, but with a bright aniseed smell, is called fennel. It is widespread in nature, and every July the meadows are filled with characteristic yellow umbrellas. The plant has been used since ancient times as a medicinal plant, the first medical works about it were written by Dioxorides and Avicenna. Later, the culinary potential of fennel was discovered, it goes into pickles, marinades, and is used as a seasoning for fish and meat.
What is fennel and what does it look like
Fennel is a bright representative of the Celery family (Apiaceae), it is a perennial flowering plant with a spindle-shaped rhizome. The stems are erect, round, with a slight bluish coating. The leaf is cut into small filamentous segments, so young fennel is often confused with dill. However, this plant grows up to 220 cm in a favorable climate. In bloom, fennel is also similar to dill – it forms a complex umbrella of many yellow flowers. Each produces a fruit – a small seed of an oblong shape up to 10 mm long.
When growing fennel is very undemanding to the soil, it tolerates the close proximity of other crops. However, the yield directly depends on the climate, as the plant is very thermophilic.
Composition and caloric content
Fennel contains a lot of useful vitamins, essential and fatty acids, as well as the most important micro - and macronutrients. Especially a lot of vitamin C, PP and A. There is zinc, phosphorus, manganese and calcium. However, now much depends on the environmental situation at the place of cultivation. Fennel easily picks up quite a lot of heavy metals from the soil. Therefore, it is highly discouraged to collect wild plants near busy roads or in meadows near factories.
In general, the reference composition of 100 g of fennel is as follows:
vitamin A – 7 mcg;
vitamin B1 – 0.4 mcg;
vitamin B2 – 0.35 mcg;
vitamin B6 – 0.45 mcg;
vitamin C-21 m g;
vitamin PP-6 mg;
calcium – 1196 mg;
magnesium – 385 mg;
sodium-88 mg;
potassium – 17 mg;
phosphorus – 485 mg;
iron – 18 mg;
zinc-3.5 mg;
copper – 10 mcg;
manganese – 6.5 mg.
The calorie content of 100 g of fennel is 345 calories. Nutritional value:
carbohydrates – 12.5 g;
fat – 14.8 g;
protein-15 g;
dietary fiber-40 g;
water and 8.2 g;
ash – 9 g;
saturated acids – 0.5 g.
General use
The healing properties of fennel have been known since ancient times. The medical works of Dioscorides, Pliny, and Avicenna mention this plant as extremely useful, appearing in a number of recipes and medicinal remedies. Despite the development of technology, preparations using fennel, herbal preparations and essential oils are often prescribed by official medicine today.
Fennel has the following proven beneficial properties:
it is an expectorant;
calms you down;
relieves spasms;
it is an antioxidant;
removes inflammation;
dilates blood vessels;
evens out skin tone;
it has a mild healing effect;
saturates the subcutaneous layer with vitamins, improving the tone.
In medicine, plants grown in ecologically clean areas are used. In this case, the preparations include roots, stems, leaves, inflorescences and seeds. Various forms, powders, essential oils and decoctions are used.
Mediterranean cooking uses fennel in various forms. For example, baked fish with grated fennel root gets a particularly refined aroma and taste. Stems, leaves and flower beds are widely used in marinades and pickles. They not only enrich the aromatic bouquet of the product, but also significantly increase the safety of canned food, since fennel juice has an antiseptic effect.
Fennel oil: properties and application
Fennel oil is obtained by steam distillation of the seeds. This is a universal product in cosmetology and medicine, and it is also used only in cooking. Among the main proven properties, the following should be distinguished:
It is used for cleaning wards and apartments, it is enough to spray 2 drops per 5 sq. m, and the number of fungi in the room is reduced by 5-6 times.
It stimulates the production of natural estrogen.
It is a moderate antispasmodic, diuretic, sedative, mild laxative, hepatoprotector.
Saturates the subcutaneous layer with vitamins and macronutrients.
It has an antioxidant effect.
It has an anti-inflammatory effect when applied externally.
This baggage of useful properties allows you to use fennel oil externally, inside and for the treatment of premises. The effect on the skin is the most beneficial. Due to the saturation of the subcutaneous layer, you can smooth out wrinkles, give freshness and restore youth to the skin.
Good results are shown by therapy against acne, pimples and dermatitis.
What is fennel and what does it look like
Fennel is a bright representative of the Celery family (Apiaceae), it is a perennial flowering plant with a spindle-shaped rhizome. The stems are erect, round, with a slight bluish coating. The leaf is cut into small filamentous segments, so young fennel is often confused with dill. However, this plant grows up to 220 cm in a favorable climate. In bloom, fennel is also similar to dill – it forms a complex umbrella of many yellow flowers. Each produces a fruit – a small seed of an oblong shape up to 10 mm long.
When growing fennel is very undemanding to the soil, it tolerates the close proximity of other crops. However, the yield directly depends on the climate, as the plant is very thermophilic.
Composition and caloric content
Fennel contains a lot of useful vitamins, essential and fatty acids, as well as the most important micro - and macronutrients. Especially a lot of vitamin C, PP and A. There is zinc, phosphorus, manganese and calcium. However, now much depends on the environmental situation at the place of cultivation. Fennel easily picks up quite a lot of heavy metals from the soil. Therefore, it is highly discouraged to collect wild plants near busy roads or in meadows near factories.
In general, the reference composition of 100 g of fennel is as follows:
vitamin A – 7 mcg;
vitamin B1 – 0.4 mcg;
vitamin B2 – 0.35 mcg;
vitamin B6 – 0.45 mcg;
vitamin C-21 m g;
vitamin PP-6 mg;
calcium – 1196 mg;
magnesium – 385 mg;
sodium-88 mg;
potassium – 17 mg;
phosphorus – 485 mg;
iron – 18 mg;
zinc-3.5 mg;
copper – 10 mcg;
manganese – 6.5 mg.
The calorie content of 100 g of fennel is 345 calories. Nutritional value:
carbohydrates – 12.5 g;
fat – 14.8 g;
protein-15 g;
dietary fiber-40 g;
water and 8.2 g;
ash – 9 g;
saturated acids – 0.5 g.
General use
The healing properties of fennel have been known since ancient times. The medical works of Dioscorides, Pliny, and Avicenna mention this plant as extremely useful, appearing in a number of recipes and medicinal remedies. Despite the development of technology, preparations using fennel, herbal preparations and essential oils are often prescribed by official medicine today.
Fennel has the following proven beneficial properties:
it is an expectorant;
calms you down;
relieves spasms;
it is an antioxidant;
removes inflammation;
dilates blood vessels;
evens out skin tone;
it has a mild healing effect;
saturates the subcutaneous layer with vitamins, improving the tone.
In medicine, plants grown in ecologically clean areas are used. In this case, the preparations include roots, stems, leaves, inflorescences and seeds. Various forms, powders, essential oils and decoctions are used.
Mediterranean cooking uses fennel in various forms. For example, baked fish with grated fennel root gets a particularly refined aroma and taste. Stems, leaves and flower beds are widely used in marinades and pickles. They not only enrich the aromatic bouquet of the product, but also significantly increase the safety of canned food, since fennel juice has an antiseptic effect.
Fennel oil: properties and application
Fennel oil is obtained by steam distillation of the seeds. This is a universal product in cosmetology and medicine, and it is also used only in cooking. Among the main proven properties, the following should be distinguished:
It is used for cleaning wards and apartments, it is enough to spray 2 drops per 5 sq. m, and the number of fungi in the room is reduced by 5-6 times.
It stimulates the production of natural estrogen.
It is a moderate antispasmodic, diuretic, sedative, mild laxative, hepatoprotector.
Saturates the subcutaneous layer with vitamins and macronutrients.
It has an antioxidant effect.
It has an anti-inflammatory effect when applied externally.
This baggage of useful properties allows you to use fennel oil externally, inside and for the treatment of premises. The effect on the skin is the most beneficial. Due to the saturation of the subcutaneous layer, you can smooth out wrinkles, give freshness and restore youth to the skin.
Good results are shown by therapy against acne, pimples and dermatitis.