Fennel is quite the mysterious vegetables to many people. While it is a common food eaten in Mediterranean cuisine, it is not as common in the American diet. But there are so many reasons it should be! It is a great addition to any summer dish, and has a slurry of health benefits to accompany it. Here are a few of the benefits of this funky root and how you can use it at home:
- Fennel helps beat the bloat
Enzymes in fennel help stimulate your kidneys, causing them to flush waste and extra fluid from your body, which beats bloat in your belly. - Fennel keeps you regular.
Because of the high fiber content, fennel helps to keep things moving along (if you know what I mean...), preventing constipation and flushing out toxins. It also helps keep you full longer. - Fennel builds beautiful skin.
Fennel is an excellent source of vitamin C. Collagen, the skin's support system, relies on vitamin C as an essential nutrient that works in our bodies as an antioxidant to help prevent damage caused by the sun, pollution and smoke. Vitamin C also promotes collagen's ability to smooth wrinkles and improve overall skin texture. - Fennel helps with indigestion
The seeds are used in Eastern medicine to facilitate digestion, prevent bad breath and cure indigestion by eliminating gas from the stomach.
How to incorporate fennel into your diet:
Every part of the fennel (plant, seeds, leaves, and bulb) can be consumed and you reap the health benefits.
- Try slicing it and adding it to your salad with a good citrus dressing
- Add fennel seeds to crust your fish or chicken
- Use leaves in salads and soups
- Roast the bulb with olive oil, salt and pepper for a delicious side dish.