The Phenomenal Health Benefits of Fennel Tea
Fennel is one of those wonderfully versatile plants. You can use it to elevate the flavor of a meal or help heal the body's systems. Since the fennel plant is a vegetable, spice, and herb all in one plant, you can use all parts of it for either cooking or remedies, including bulbs, leaves, and seeds.
Ancient traditional medicine practitioners of Asia and the Middle East understood the health benefits of fennel tea and administered it to their patients to treat several ailments. This aromatic tea is loaded with nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins A, B-complex, C, and D, which are great for human health.
Today fennel tea is consumed to help with several health conditions, such as weight loss, digestive issues, irritable bowel syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and general overall well-being. In this article, we'll take a look at the powerful benefits that fennel tea can bring to your life.
What is Fennel Tea?
The fennel plant (Foeniculum vulgare) is a member of the carrot family of plants. If you've ever chewed on fennel seeds, you'll notice a distinct licorice or anise taste. The seeds, as well as the oil made from the seeds of the fennel plant, have exceptional medicinal properties and can also be used to make a potent herbal tea.
Brewing fennel tea is simple: boil crushed fennel seeds in hot water. The heat from the boiling water will draw out the natural oils inside the crushed seeds making a flavorful herbal tea with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Avoid fennel tea bags since manufacturers overprocess the crushed fennel seeds used to make them, causing the tea to lose some healthy benefits and flavor.
The Top Health Benefits of Drinking Fennel Tea
You may be wondering, what is fennel tea good for? Fennel tea is packed with nutritious health benefits, including antioxidants and other essential compounds for a person's health. From improved digestion to better vision, fennel tea is tops when it comes to health benefits.
This terrific tea is so rich in vitamins, amino acids, and other nutrients that it would be an excellent idea to include it in your daily diet. Let's look at some of the main reasons why fennel tea is one of the healthiest tea choices around.
#1. Improves Digestion and Helps the Gastrointestinal System
For centuries, traditional healers and herbalists have regarded fennel as one of the many medicinal plants that can help with digestive issues like upset stomachs, bloating, and gas. Fennel tea naturally contains anti-inflammatory and carminative properties, and drinking a cup of fennel tea can help reduce and prevent problems with gas, eliminating cramps and bloating.
Sipping on fennel tea may help speed up a person's digestion, improving the absorption of nutrients and preventing conditions like constipation, diarrhea, and even irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Fennel tea not only acts as a digestive aid but can also help rebuild damaged tissues in the stomach and prevent further damage to the digestive tract.
#2. Helps With Weight Loss
Since fennel tea already aids in digestion, one of the bonus side effects can be weight loss. Improving the digestive process helps the body assimilate and absorb nutrients more efficiently. A better functioning digestive system means reduced cravings, feeling full longer, and removing unwanted excess fluids. When a person feels this way, they'll continue reaching for fennel tea, stop reaching for the cookies, chips, and cakes, and start shedding the pounds.
#3. Better Heart Health
A healthy functioning liver means a better functioning heart. Cholesterol is produced and broken down in the liver. If the liver is not functioning correctly, cholesterol can build up and cause an increased risk of cardiovascular problems. Fennel supports the liver's ability to break down cholesterol and indirectly assists the cardiovascular system.
Fennel also contains a ton of fiber which helps the digestive system eliminate toxins protecting the heart against cardiovascular diseases. Potassium helps control blood pressure and works to combat the effects of sodium in the body, and fennel is an excellent source of potassium. The result is the prevention of hypertension and a reduced risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.
#4. Helps The Respiratory System
For centuries fennel was a standard treatment for respiratory illnesses. It cleans the airways by helping to remove mucous and calming spasms in the respiratory system. One study suggests that a herbal composite containing fennel helped alleviate respiratory problems in horses with similar results for humans. And another study points to fennel as a suitable treatment for respiratory conditions like chronic coughs and bronchitis.
#5. Improves Vision
Sip your way to better vision with fennel tea! Fennel seed extracts may be helpful in the treatment of glaucoma. You can even help soothe your eyes by drinking fennel tea or by applying the tea directly with eye drops or as a compress to stop inflammation and reduce swollen or puffy eyes.
Fennel extracts are rich in vitamin C, an essential vitamin for promoting better vision and protecting the eyes. According to research, low levels of this critical vitamin can create eye cataract formations. You may even prevent macular degeneration by adding vitamin-rich foods like dried fennel seeds, fennel bulbs, or fennel tea. A thinly sliced fennel bulb is an excellent addition to any fresh salad!
#6. Relieves Painful Menstrual Cramps
Fennel tea can help relieve menstrual cramps and painful periods. In a recent study, high school girls dealing with menstrual pain experienced an improvement in their condition after taking fennel extract. In another study, those taking fennel showed a significant reduction in menstrual pain, nausea, and weakness.
And another one of the many potential health benefits of this tasty tea is that it can help keep the uterus from contracting, reducing the pain intensity during a period.
#7. Reduces Gum Inflammation
The antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial properties found in fennel tea may help reduce inflammation of the gums. These properties also help protect the teeth and eliminate bad breath. And since fennel is a natural breath freshener, it is a great tea to drink after eating to remove any food odors.
#8. Relieves Arthritis
Fennel may help alleviate the pain and discomfort that comes with arthritis. A high level of antioxidants reduces swelling and inflammation in the body, making muscular and joint mobility easier. Fennel tea may also help against osteoporosis, a bone disease that occurs when bone mineral density and bone mass decrease.
#9. Helps Eliminate Internal Parasites
The health benefits of fennel tea can even kill internal parasites. This healthy tea is a natural laxative that helps promote intestinal movement that can flush out parasites in your system. Some studies have even shown that fennel may act as a sedative to parasites putting them to sleep and preventing them from multiplying.
#10. Is Good For Babies
Studies suggest that fennel tea may help reduce colic symptoms in babies. Fennel tea benefits a baby by creating a soothing effect on the gastrointestinal system and can help reduce gas and relieve bloating. It also contains anti-spasmatic properties, which stop muscle spasms reducing stomach cramps.
However, with any treatment of newborns, babies, and children, it is best to talk to your doctor first. It may be unsafe for babies below four months of age to drink fennel tea.
#11. Helps With Diabetes
Millions of people deal with diabetes daily. Fennel tea may help alleviate the problems associated with diabetes. One study showed that rodents given 250 milligrams of fennel had reduced blood glucose levels.
Fennel tea is an excellent source of vitamin C. This may be why people with Type 2 diabetes who regularly drink fennel tea experience reduced blood sugar levels. Since fennel is similar to other starchy vegetables, it naturally has a low glycemic index that can help control blood glucose levels.
Because it's rich in potassium, fennel tea may help increase insulin sensitivity making it an excellent choice for those taking insulin. Magnesium is also a major nutrient in fennel tea, and a diet containing substantial magnesium levels can help protect against Type 2 diabetes.
#12. Helps Fight Cancer
The antioxidant properties in fennel tea may help protect against certain cancers. Fennel tea contains several compounds, including quercetin which has anticancer properties. And let's not forget fennel tea has incredible anti-inflammatory properties, which can help stop free radicals from attacking and damaging healthy cells.
The fiber in fennel is ideal for supporting cancer treatment. Keeping the digestive system functioning correctly and the colon clean is a great way to help remove toxins from the body. A body free of toxins is better equipped to stop the onset of certain cancers like prostate and colon cancer.
#13. Better Looking Skin
The tiny fennel seed packs a powerful punch with beneficial essential oils like anethole, myrcene, and limonene. These essential oils contain anti-inflammatory properties that may help treat skin conditions like acne, rosacea, and psoriasis. Another essential oil found in fennel seeds is chavicol which has the potential to kill germs and prevent skin infections.
Drinking a cup of fennel tea helps flush out excess liquids from the skin, keeping the skin clear and free. Also, phytoestrogens or estrogens that naturally occur in vegetables have anti-aging properties and may help improve the skin's overall look.
#14. Boosts the Immune System
Fennel seed oil, extract, and tea are all great sources of vitamin C. Everybody knows that vitamin C plays a significant role in supporting your immune system's health. Fennel tea also contains potent antifungal, antiseptic, and antibacterial effects that help fight viruses, bacterial and fungal infections. These properties can help keep a cold or flu at bay before an infection occurs.
#15. Assists With Breastfeeding
One of the most widely known uses for fennel tea is improving breast milk production in nursing women. It increases the quantity and quality of breast milk and its flow, preventing problems such as mastitis.
It is important to note that even though there is a lot of anecdotal evidence to support this claim, breastfeeding mothers should consult with their GP or medical practitioner to determine the reason behind a potential breastfeeding issue.
Possible Side Effects of Fennel Seeds and Fennel Tea
Eating fresh fennel seeds or making a hot cup of fennel seed tea is a great way to get all the healthy tea benefits, but there are some rare cases where herbal remedies like fennel tea may cause some side effects.
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May cause allergic reactions - Fennel tea may create an allergic reaction in some individuals. This is most likely the case with people allergic to other specific vegetables like carrots and celery.
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May affect pregnant women and estrogen levels - Women who are pregnant or people suffering from an estrogen-sensitive condition, like endometriosis, should avoid fennel to reduce the risk of complications with the estrogen levels in their body.
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Interactions with medications - Fennel, combined with certain prescribed medications, may interfere with the body's ability to metabolize the medication.
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May disrupt the endocrine system - Fennel contains phytoestrogens, a plant-based hormone that may disrupt the endocrine system's operations.
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Possibly unsafe for babies - Avoid giving fennel to babies under four months of age. Consult a doctor before giving your baby fennel tea.
Drink Fennel Tea For Fabulous Heath
There are endless benefits of fennel tea that help heal both the mind and the body. Fennel tea is a herbal remedy that has been a staple as a traditional medicine for centuries but is also a modern alternative medicine used worldwide. Whether you want to improve digestion, lose weight, for pain relief, or to boost your overall health, fennel tea is the way to go. Try our unique and delicious fennel tea recipe with this fennel tea blend that combines fennel, anise, ginger, and chili.