Fennel, also known as Foeniculum Vulgare is a medicinal plant that comes in two colors, white or green. Each color fennel plant has yellow flowers and feathery leaves. The seeds and crunchy bulb of the fennel plant have a licorice-like flavor. However, the more potent flavor comes from the seeds because of its powerful essential oils. Despite being more potent, every part of the fennel plant is still edible.

Apart from its numerous culinary uses, organic fennel is also commonly used in antacids, mouth fresheners, dessert, and toothpaste. The benefits of eating organic fennel include:

Reduces Blood pressure

Reduced sodium intake lowers your blood pressure and so does increasing your potassium intake. Potassium plays a significant role in the contraction and dilation of your blood vessels. Also, there is evidence that magnesium, potassium, and calcium also help in decreasing blood pressure. And, all these nutrients are present in organic fennel.

The nitrates also found in fennel have vasoprotective and vasodilatory properties. These properties help to lower your blood pressure and protect your heart.

Bone health

The mineral and vitamin content present in organic fennel aids in maintaining and building bone strength and structure. Calcium and phosphate are essential in bone structure. Zin and iron are a vital component for the maturation and production of collagen. While manganese is essential in the bone matrix formation. The presence of vitamin k in organic fennels helps lower your risk of bone fracture.

Vitamin K also modifies protein bone matrix, reduces calcium excretion in urine, and improves the absorption of calcium. All these attributes help to improve your bone health.  Not only does this improve your health as a whole but also your way of life as well.

Cancer

The enormous array of powerful compounds in organic fennel may aid in protecting against chronic illnesses like certain types of cancers. Anethole—an active compound present in the fennel seeds—has been found to contain properties that can help fight cancer. Selenium, a mineral found in organic fennel and not present in most vegetables, is essential in protecting against cancer.

Selenium contains properties that allow it to contribute to the enzyme function of the liver. This, in turn, helps in the detoxification process of cancer-causing compounds in your body. It also helps in the prevention of inflammation and the reduction of tumor growth rates. The fiber present in organic fennel also helps in lowering your risk of acquiring colorectal cancer.

Vitamin A, vitamin C, and beta-carotene present in fennel protect your cells from damage. The presence of folate in organic fennel plays a significant role in DNA repair and synthesis. This might help in preventing the formation of cancer cells because of DNA mutations.

Heart health

The potassium, fiber, vitamin C, folate, vitamin B-6, and phytonutrient content present in fennel assist tremendously in supporting heart health. Also, the significant amount of fiber present in organic fennel help reduce your risk of heart diseases. Fiber helps reduce your risk of heart disease, as it aids in reducing the amount of cholesterol present in your blood.

The presence of potassium also helps in promoting heart health. According to one study, participants who consume an average of 4,069 mg of potassium every day has at least a 49% lower risk of getting other heart diseases compared to those who consumed 1,793 mg every day.

Folate and vitamin B-6 also prevent the build-up of homocysteine by turning it into methionine. When your body contains an excessive amount of homocysteine, it can cause your blood vessels to get damages and eventually cause heart problems.

Estrogen

The consumption of organic fennel causes the natural production of estrogen. This hormone plays a significant role in the regulation of a female’s reproductive cycle. It also determines fertility. According to a scientific study conducted by Texas Southwestern Medical Center university, certain estrogen factors significantly contribute to your body weight. Some of these factors include energy expenditure, appetite, and body fat distribution.

An imbalance of estrogen, especially in menopausal women, can cause abdominal weight gain. Eating organic fennel allows you to obtain higher estrogen levels. Thus, gaining control of your weight

Improves breastmilk production

Breast milk is an essential meal for newborns. However, for some women, the production of regular breast milk can be a challenge. Consumption of fennel regularly can help improve breastmilk production. This is possible due to its galactogenic properties, as it aids in the increase of milk secretion. Research has also found that anethole is also responsible for the increase in milk secretion in the plant.

Relives digestion

In the Indian Subcontinent, it is a popular practice to eat fennel seeds after consuming a meal. This practice has been in existence for many years. And the reason why they do so is to help in eliminating bad breath and facilitating digestion. Some of the mineral and vitamin components of fennel help in stimulating the secretion of gastric and digestive juices.

They also aid in reducing inflammation in the intestines and stomach. Consequently, this facilitates the proper absorption of all the nutrients present in the food you consume. Besides, organic fennel also helps in eliminating constipation. It also protects your body from numerous intestinal problems, which arise from the blockage of your intestines. Fennel also contains anti-acidic properties and is used extensively in the preparation of antacids.

Brain function

Potassium is an electrolyte that naturally exists in fennel seeds and bulbs. This electrolyte helps in facilitating the increase of electrical conduction in your body.  Similarly, this causes an increase in your cognitive abilities and brain function as well.

Despite all the benefits that organic fennel has to offer, it is essential to remember that consuming something in large amounts can be dangerous. This is why it is important to consume organic fennel in small amounts. Excessive use of organic fennel can sometimes cause increased palpations, difficulty breathing, and irregular heartbeats. Therefore, make sure you enjoy fennel in moderation