Fenugreek

Fennel is an aromatic and flavorful herb that has several culinary as well as medicinal uses. If it is not in your kitchen cupboard right now, youall want to put it on your grocery list and make it a household staple after learning more about it. Fennel characterized as annual herbs, the stems is hollow, segmented, green and white. If the fennel stalk bruising will release a fragrant smell.

Blue-green fennel seeds while still young, and will be a brownish green if it is old. Fennel seed shape is oval and has a strong scent, while the fruit have a slightly sweet and slightly spicy.

In addition to its popular use as a breath freshener, it helps relieve a number of ailments and facilitates better health due to its stomachic, carminative, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, expectorant, diuretic, emmenagogue, depurative, anticarcinogenic and antioxidant properties.

The fibre content (saponins, mucilage, etc.) of fenugreek binds to toxins in the food and flush them out. This in turn helps to protect the mucus membrane of the colon from cancers.

Include fenugreek in your weight loss diet by chewing soaked methi seeds in the morning on an empty stomach.

The natural soluble fibre in the fenugreek can swell and fill the stomach thereby suppressing your appetite.

Cure for skin inflammation and scars:

Apply a clean cloth soaked in methi seed paste for effective treatment of skin problems like burns, boils, eczema, etc.

Fenugreek seeds also help in getting rid of scars.

Fennel is highly beneficial in relieving digestive problems such as indigestion, bloating, flatulence, constipation, colic, intestinal gas, heartburn, and even irritable bowel.

This herb stimulates digestion and has carminative effects that soothe the digestive tract and prevent the formation of gas.

Moreover, it can help rebuild the digestive system after radiation or chemotherapy treatments.

Simply chewing a teaspoon of fennel seeds after meals aids digestion and relieves stomach pains and bloating.

When suffering from indigestion, you can drink fennel tea or take one-half teaspoon of fennel seed powder along with water two times a day.

Drinking fennel tea on a regular basis helps flush out excess fluids from the body as it works as a diuretic.

You can also reduce puffy eyes caused by fluid retention by applying strong fennel tea under your eyes.

In addition to preventing and relieving water retention, fennel helps remove toxins and reduces the risk of urinary tract problems.

It also has diaphoretic properties that will stimulate perspiration.

Fenugreek helps flush out harmful toxins.

It relieves indigestion and helps treat constipation.

One teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in your food can be an effective remedy for acid reflux or heartburn.

Mucilage of fenugreek seeds coat the lining of the stomach and intestine and sooth irritated gastrointestinal tissues.

Before consuming, you can soak the methi seeds in water to make their outer coat mucilaginous.

Fenugreek when taken with a teaspoon of lemon and honey can work wonders to reduce fever by nourishing the body.

The soothing effect of mucilage in fenugreek also helps to relieve cough and pain from sore throat.

Fenugreek ranks high among the amust havesa for nursing mothers.

This is due to the presence of diosgenin in the spice which increases milk production in lactating mothers.

Fenugreek is beneficial for people with diabetes.

Galactomannan, a natural soluble fibre present in fenugreek slows down the rate of sugar absorption into blood.

Fenugreek also contains amino acid responsible for inducing the production of insulin.

Fenugreek has been known to be helpful in inducing childbirth by stimulating uterine contractions.

It is also known to reduce labour pain.

But hereas a word of caution.

Excess intake of fenugreek seeds during pregnancy could put you in risk of miscarriage or premature childbirth.

According to studies fenugreek helps to reduce cholesterol level, especially that of the low density lipoprotein (ldl).

Improve common womenas health problems:

Fenugreek contains compounds like diosgenin and isoflavones with oestrogen-like properties which help reduce symptoms like discomfort and menstrual cramps associated with pms.

These compounds also ease menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood fluctuations.

Women are more prone to iron deficiency during adolescence (initiation of menstrual periods), during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Including green leafy veggies like fenugreek (methi) in your diet can supply a good amount of iron. But make sure to add tomatoes or potatoes to the preparations to enhance the iron absorption.

Want to enlarge your breasts? include fenugreek in your regular diet.

The oestrogen-like property of fenugreek can help in breast enlargement by balancing hormones in women.

Fennel is excellent for combating obesity as it suppresses the appetite and creates a feeling of fullness.

Fresh fennel works as a natural fat buster by boosting the metabolism and breaking down fats.

Plus, being a diuretic, fennel helps reduce water retention, which is a common cause of temporary weight gain.

One simple way to facilitate weight loss with this herb is to dry roast, grind and sieve fennel seeds and consume one-half teaspoon of the powder with warm water twice daily.

Fennel bulb can help decrease the risk of developing colon cancer because it helps remove carcinogenic toxins from the colon.

Moreover, the herb has an anti-inflammatory phytonutrient called anethole that has anti-cancer effects.

A 2012 study at the university of texas found that this phytonutrient can stop breast cancer cells from growing.

Other phytonutrients like quercetin and limonene present in this herb also have anticarcinogenic effects.

Many factors, including stress and poor diet, can interrupt a womanas regular menstrual cycle.

Fennel seeds have emmenagogue properties that promote and regulate menstrual flow.

The herb also has phytoestrogens that help with issues like premenstrual syndrome, menopausal disorders, and breast enlargement.