Fennel - a plant that is known to mankind for a long time and is used in cooking as a spice and medicine - as the medicine. The main value of the essential oil of fennel in Essential oils and conception: can help the roses? Which gives it a special, no matter what it does not like the flavor and provides a comprehensive effect on the body.

The use of fennel in cooking

Fennel - a relative of dill, but it has nothing on a similar taste and smell which give the dish a special elegance. Therefore, it is very popular in many cuisines. Especially appreciated the fresh leaves of fennel, which are added to salads, first and second courses, stewed with butter and seasoning of flour and broth. For Italian cuisine typical of fennel pickle. Malkin flowering fennel is added to the jars with vegetables in home canning.

Found application and other parts of the fennel: stems pour boiling water and add as a garnish for meat and fish dishes, milled fruits of fennel is used as a spice for grilled meat, poultry dishes. Fennel is added to the dough for cakes, confectionery vegetable oil, made from a flavored tea. Milled root fennel added in various confectionery products.

The use of fennel in medicine

Fennel is used in folk medicine in different countries, it is prepared from pharmaceutical preparations used as additives for the preparation of aromatic medications and teas.

In medicine, used mainly fennel fruit. The fruits are harvested when they are brownish-green, hard and are clearly visible dark brown longitudinal stripes oil moves.

Fennel has antispasmodic, carminative, choleretic, diuretic effect, increases the secretion of the stomach and pancreas, improves motor activity of the intestine, stimulates metabolism Improves metabolism and losing weight without dieting . Fennel is also contributes to reduction of the excitability of the central nervous system slightly widens the blood vessels (including coronary feeding the heart muscle). For colds fennel promotes liquefaction and expectoration of sputum, and has a slight antibacterial effect.

Especially effective fennel with flatulence, which is accompanied by cramping pains. It relieves spasm of smooth muscles of the intestine, increases its locomotor activity and promotes gas toward the rectum.

Apply fennel oil in menopause, it soothes, it relieves spasms of smooth muscles and stimulates the production of the female hormone estrogen. Additionally, fennel essential oil has a strong antifungal effect.

Medications fennel that you can cook at home

At home, fennel can be prepared:

• Fennel fruit infusion for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: two tablespoons of fruit pour half a liter of boiled water for one hour, filtered, made up to the initial level and take a quarter cup four times a day for half an hour before meals;
• infusion of fennel fruit in spastic pain in the stomach and intestines: teaspoon dried minced raw pour a glass of boiled water for ten minutes, cooled, filtered and taken half a cup two or three times a day before meals;
• infusion of fennel fruit in spastic pain in the biliary tract: two teaspoons dried minced raw pour a glass of boiled water, for an hour, filter and take a quarter cup five times a day;
• fennel infusion for the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, three teaspoons dried minced raw pour a glass of boiled water, half an hour, filter and take a tablespoon of four to five times a day;
• fennel infusion to rinse the throat and mouth: tablespoon dried minced raw pour a glass of boiled water, half an hour, filter and rinse the throat with colds;
• long stems and leaves of fennel are also used for bath brooms; use such brooms especially recommended for patients suffering from neurosis and insomnia.

Pharmaceutical preparations of fennel

The pharmacy you can buy these ready-made products:

• fennel oil - essential oil, which is produced from the fruits of fennel; used for abdominal distension and as an expectorant for five to ten drops three times a day;
• dill water (prepared in the pharmacy at the rate of one part of fennel oil in a thousand parts of water), take a tablespoon to six times a day;
• carminative collection consists of equal parts fennel, mint Mint and its useful properties: aromatic freshness   peppermint and valerian; It is prepared from the infusion rate of a tablespoon per cup of boiling water collection; take a quarter cup twice daily;
• anetin - peeled total drug that is prepared from the fruits of dill Dill: benefits and harms of fragrant spices   odorous, used for tablet three times a day as an antispasmodic.

Fennel - a plant that is used as a cure worldwide.

Galina Romanenko

Fennel - a crisp, sweetish spice, which is a refreshing addition to the ever-popular dishes of Mediterranean cuisine. This plant is usually associated with Italian cuisine and worth it to add it to the list of fresh herbs and vegetables from the autumn to early spring, when the sale of spices in great quantity, but the most useful properties are strong.

Fennel is a white or light-green flesh, from which grows tight armful of stalks. The tops of the stems are covered with feathery green leaves and flowers, which bring fennel seeds. All these parts of the plant, that is the bulb, stalks, leaves and seeds, are edible. Fennel belongs to the family umbrella and is a close relative of parsley Parsley Health and Beauty , Carrots, fennel Dill: benefits and harms of fragrant spices   and coriander.

The table in detail, indicating the percentage shows that the portion of fennel provides many useful elements for our body and, according to the table of food value, is an excellent source of various vitamins and minerals.

Beneficial features

Like many other spices of the family, fennel contains a unique combination of phytonutrients, including flavonoids such as rutin, quercetin and kaempferol glycosides different, which explains the activity of antioxidants fennel. According to studies, phytonutrients fennel extract benefit compared with butylated (BHT), a potentially toxic antioxidant is often added in the semis.

The most valuable flavonoid contained in fennel - anethole is the main component of the essential oil Essential oils and conception: can help the roses?   fennel. Studies on animals have repeatedly confirmed that fennel anethole in the composition reduces inflammation and prevent cancer. In addition, researchers have suggested exactly what biological mechanism explains the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effect. This mechanism involves failure of intercellular signaling system, the so-called "tumor necrosis factor» (TNF), that is mediated signaling. Anethole stops the transmission of such signals, thereby preventing the activation of potentially strong molecule NF-kappaB, contributing to a change in the genes and cause inflammation. Also, studies have shown that the fennel essential oil protects the liver of experimental animals from damage by toxic chemicals.

Vitamin C as an antioxidant and immunoprotector

In addition to the remarkable phytonutrients in the bulb contains a huge amount of vitamin C. Vitamin C - is the main water-soluble antioxidant, which is able to neutralize free radicals in any aquatic environment in our body. Free radicals damage the cells of the body, causing pain and wear of joints, e.g., in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoartit Arthritis - a variety of forms and complications . Vitamin C contained in the bulb of fennel, has a direct antimicrobial effect. It is also necessary for proper functioning of the immune system.

Cellulose, folate and potassium for the health of the cardiovascular system and colon

Fennel is a good source of fiber helps reduce elevated blood cholesterol .  And because fiber also removes potentially carcinogenic toxic substances from the colon, onion, fennel helps prevent colon cancer .  In addition to fiber, fennel contains a lot of folate, a type of vitamin B, necessary to convert the dangerous molecule homocysteine ​​into other harmless benign molecules .  The presence of a large amount of blood homocysteine, capable of directly damaging the walls of blood vessels, is considered a serious risk factor for angina or heart attack .  Also, fennel - an excellent source of potassium, a mineral that reduces high blood pressure, that is another risk factor for angina or heart attack .  In a cup of fennel contains 10, 8% of the daily requirement of fiber, 5, 9% of the daily requirement of folate and 10, 3% of the daily requirement of potassium .