Food & Nutrition, Healthy Cooking
6 Health Benefits Of Adding Saunf Or Fennel Seeds In Your Diet
May
Medically reviewed by Darshita Thakkar, Nutrition Training and Quality Manager for PAN India
Fennel seeds or saunf is a major spice that goes in almost all our Indian dishes. It not only adds a sweet flavour to the food, but also offers evident health benefits like better digestion, lowers BP, and aids in weight loss.
Did you know that fennel seed or saunf as we popularly call it is considered a miracle culinary seed – it not only enhances the taste of the food, but adds to the health factor of the food.
Table of Contents
- The 6 Reasons To Use Saunf
- Fosters good bone health
- Helps lower high blood pressure
- Good for health and immunity
- Prevents water retention
- Has anti-cancer properties
- Improves iron absorption
It is a popular after-meal condiment that cleanses the palate, prevents bad breath, and also the juices from the chewed fennel seed aids in digestion; especially after a heavy meal.
Here Are The 6 Reasons To Use Saunf
In cooking saunf is mostly used alone or as part of a masala/spice mix – like the popular Bengali masala/spice mix called Paanch Phoron.
Many recipes call for fennel seed to be used as a seasoning or in the powdered form.
Besides being used in cooking, fennel tea or fennel water – which is a decoction made by soaking fennel seeds or saunf in boiled water – can be drunk after or during a meal aids in digestion, and overall weight loss.
1. Fosters good bone health
It contains all the vitamins and minerals needed for maintaining bone health. They are iron, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and vitamin K.
2. Helps lower high blood pressure
High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for heart attacks and stroke. Fennel seeds or saunf has dietary nitrates which have vasodilatory effects.
The calcium and magnesium in saunf also aids in maintaining healthy blood pressure
3. Good for health and immunity
Saunf is rich in fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, and phytonutrients.
All this with no cholesterol levels make it a good heart health candidate.
Again the presence of selenium improves the activity of our immune system.
4. Prevents water retention and slims down the waistline
Fennel seed tea is a natural diuretic so it an excellent ingredient for detoxifying your body. means that having fennel seed tea flushes out extra fluids and toxins from the body.
And also prevents urinary tract infections. It prevents stomach bloating, so your waistline looks slimmer. By removing toxins, fennel seed also helps in weight loss.
5. Has anti-cancer properties
Saunf is rich in selenium, a mineral deficient in most fruits and vegetables. Selenium helps in the formation of some liver enzymes which detoxify the body.
Additionally, saunf has other antioxidants like vitamin A, C, and beta carotene too. Saunf also contains folate which helps in DNA repair, thus preventing any mutation.
6. Improves iron absorption, adds glow to your skin
If you pair fennel up with vitamin C then it improves iron absorption and fights anaemia. Helps to keep the skin young and supple.
Due to the presence of collagen-boosting vitamin C, saunf is good for skin health and restoring suppleness to your skin.
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