10+ Health Benefits of Fennel Tea and Potential Side Effects
Fennel Tea and Its Health Benefits
The fennel plant is a perennial and robust herb.
It is green and crispy like celery, with soft leaves and delicate yellow flowers. Its bulb can be either white or light green with narrowly superimposed stalks.
Fennel has a small seed like appearance with greenish-brown texture.
Fennel tea benefits were so admired that Olympic athletes, in olden Greece, would use the seeds to boost stamina and increase longevity.
Moreover, Greek doctors also prescribed fennel tea to nursing mothers to enhance breast milk production.
A cup of fennel herbal tea will offer you immense benefits due to valuable elements present.
Fennel tea is abundant in vitamins A, B-complex, C, and D, as well as antioxidants.
Fennel tea is also an excellent source of calcium, fatty acids, phosphorous, manganese, magnesium, amino acids, iron, sulfur, molybdenum, potassium, zinc, and sodium.
No matter what time of the day, fennel tea is a desirable option to choose for a better and healthier life.
Related Reading: Parsley Tea: Benefits, Nutrition, and Recipes
What is Fennel Tea?
Discovered thousands of years ago, fennel has marked its importance as a medicinal herb in Asian, European, Middle Eastern and Western sub-continents.
Besides its use in cooking, fennel also aids in a host of medical conditions like bloating, acidity, and flatulence.
Fennel tea is prepared from ground mature or crushed fennel seeds. These seeds are loaded with essential oil compounds like estragole, fenchone, and anethole.
These compounds are excellent in antibacterial, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties. Just by boiling the fennel seeds in water, the oils blend well, and you get a clear broth that is extremely beneficial for your body.
Fennel Tea Nutrition
Fennel Tea NutritionA standard size fennel bulb contains
- 73 calories
- 3 grams of protein
- 17 grams of carbohydrates
- Minimal traces of fat
- No cholesterol
It is also high in fiber. Studies show that each bulb has about 7 grams of dietary fiber or close to 28% of the daily requirement.
One bulb also provides your body with approximately 969mg of potassium, about 27% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA).
This is especially beneficial because our bodies require potassium to lower blood pressure and sustain fluid balance.
Your chances of aging too quickly will decrease once you start consuming fennel. Vitamin C is a super antioxidant that lowers signs of aging.
Fennel contains just the right amount of vitamin C – about 26mg-28mg per bulb; that’s half the RDA for this vital vitamin.
Vitamin C is also responsible for helping you maintain a healthy immune system.
| Fennel Nutrition Graph – Serving Size – 87g | |
| Nutrient | DV |
| Vitamin C | 17% |
| Dietary Fiber | 11% |
| Potassium | 10% |
| Manganese | 8% |
| Folate | 6% |
| Calcium | 4% |
| Iron | 4% |
| Magnesium | 4% |
| Phosphorous | 4% |
| Niacin | 3% |
| Copper | 3% |
Health Benefits of Fennel Tea
1. Treats Skin Conditions
We know that fennel contains a good amount of Vitamin C. It is crucial for the development of collagen and a great tool in protecting the skin’s appearance.
If you want to lessen aging naturally, fennel is a good choice. Vitamin C, present in fennel, is a strong antioxidant that may help diminish free radical damage that often prompts premature aging.
2. Boosts Immune System
There is nothing better than a healthy body that can fight viruses and bacteria and save you from various illnesses. You can alleviate symptoms of viral diseases by drinking fennel tea.
Fennel herbal tea helps decrease fevers, soothe sore throats, and treats most upper respiratory tract infections like congestion, bronchitis, asthma, and coughing.
3. Reliable Agent for Weight Loss
If you don’t believe this, then read on.
Fennel tea is beneficial in improving your digestion by helping you absorb vital nutrients more efficiently. This action helps you by reducing the cravings and keeps you satisfied longer.
It curbs hunger and helps free the body of excess fluids and toxins. In return, this promotes weight loss.
4. Preventive Cancer Agent
As mentioned earlier, fennel contains anethole, and this oil acts as a natural cancer remedy. It helps reduce the development of cancer cells.
Some researchers also suggest that anethole reduces inflammation which might otherwise lead to the development of cancer.
However, there is no research to confirm how we should use it for this specific benefit.
5. Promotes a Healthier Heart
Fennel tea is a superb source of vitamins and antioxidants that help with maintaining a healthy heart.
Vitamins, antioxidants and the cleansing action explained above work together to lower the bad cholesterol levels. This action reduces the possibility of hypertension.
Regular consumption of fennel tea, along with performing regular physical exercises and limiting junk food can benefit your heart and prevent cardiovascular ailments.
6. Promotes Bone Health
Fennel contains approximately 115mg of calcium, 10% of RDA. This is excellent news for those who need help preventing calcium deficiency in the body.
Calcium helps with the maintenance of bone vitality. Therefore, consuming fennel tea, regularly, will help you overcome the calcium deficiency problem.
7. Beneficial for Vision
Fennel contains several vision-saving nutrients. Due to its high levels of Vitamin C, flavonoid, and mineral nutrients, fennel tea can assist to lessen inflammation and oxidative damage which in turn may prevent macular degeneration.
Macular degeneration is the principal cause of age-related vision loss.
8. A Good Detox Tea
Fennel tea is a good detox herbal tea as it helps remove toxins from your body.
Fennel herbal tea improves urine flow and guards the liver against alcohol abuse. It also acts as a blood cleanser and improves kidney functions, preventing kidney stones.
9. Assists Those Dealing with Menopausal Conditions
Studies suggest that fennel has phytoestrogen properties that may benefit women who experience menopausal symptoms. Such women have lower estrogen levels, and consuming fennel tea can increase the estrogen in their bodies.
Hence, it helps relieve symptoms of PMS, menstrual spasms, or menopausal conditions.
10. Treats Diabetes
We have learned that fennel is an excellent source of Vitamin C which can help in managing diabetes. A recommended intake of Vitamin C might lower blood sugar levels in people living with Type 2 Diabetes.
In a study conducted on patients who have diabetes, the patients underwent a drug course of Gluconorm-5.
One of the main ingredients in this medicine is fennel. The study suggested that patients showed significant improvement.
Fennel tea is also rich in potassium and hence useful for treating diabetes. This is because potassium increases insulin sensitivity and is a super nutrient for those suffering from diabetes.
11. Fennel Tea Benefits for Men
Fennel has nutrients that act as libido-boosters and can increase sexual desires. It can also help address problems associated with the bladder and prostate, as well as delay orgasms.
Related Reading: 12 Proven Health Benefits of Barley Tea That Will Surprise You
Fennel Tea Recipe
There are various ways to make fennel tea.
1. Fresh Fennel Leaves Tea
- Detach or strip some fresh fennel plant green leaves.
- Wash them well.
- Boil 1 cup of water.
- Mix leaves with water and let it stand for 15-20 minutes.
- Separate the water from the leaves, and add more hot water.
2. Fennel Plant Root Tea
- To treat a painful throat, use 20g of fennel plant root per liter of water.
- Boil the water and pour it over the root.
- Consume this three times a day.
3. Fennel Seeds Tea
- Crush two tablespoons of fennel seeds.
- Heat a cup of water and add in the seeds.
- Cover this broth and let it stand for 10 minutes.
- Strain the broth and consume the tea. To enhance the taste, you may add a few drops of honey.
4. Peppermint and Fennel Tea Recipe
- Crush the seeds, and combine with peppermint leaves in a jar.
- Boil some water and add it to the jar.
- Cover the liquid and let it stand for five minutes.
- Strain the tea and enjoy.
When Not to Drink Fennel Tea
If you are already on medication or going to start soon, check with your doctor to ensure you can consume fennel tea during that period of time.
If your body is susceptible to blood clots, then it is recommended that you only consume a moderate quantity of this tea.
Those with estrogen-dependent cancer should refrain from drinking this tea. However, it may be useful at certain times, such as after a session of chemotherapy.
Ask your doctor for specific consumption recommendations.
For some people, fennel tea might increase sensitivity to the sun. As a result, such people may develop sunburn.
Studies have shown an adverse effect in pregnant or nursing women after consuming fennel tea. Fennel might also trigger menstruation in pregnant women and result in a miscarriage.
For pregnant women, it is best to avoid fennel tea and err on the side of caution.
Additionally, avoid fennel herbal tea if you are suffering from any endocrine conditions. Please consult your GP in such circumstances.
In rare cases, fennel tea can also lead to allergic reactions. People who are sensitive towards celery, carrots or mugwort should avoid fennel.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include facial swelling, dizziness, and difficulty in swallowing.
Conclusion
We have provided a wealth of information about fennel herbal tea, both the side effects and the health benefits.
It’s a great drink and has healing and healthy properties that can enhance your body’s well being. Plus, it is cost effective.
We hope this article equipped you with adequate information about fennel tea and all that it has to offer.
Read Next:
- 15 Surprising Health Benefits of Drinking Green Tea before Bed
- Health Benefits of Eating Garlic and Honey & Delicious Garlic Honey Recipe
Sources:
“Fennel Benefits, Nutrition, & Fantastic Recipes,” Dr. Axe website, last accessed February 7, 2018; https://draxe.com/fennel-benefits-nutrition-fantastic-recipes/.
“Fennel Tea: The Perfect Digestive Cleanse,” The Right Tea website, last accessed February 7, 2018; https://www.therighttea.com/fennel-tea.html.
