5 Reasons to Eat More Fennel

5 Reasons to Eat More Fennel

Fennel is an underrated vegetable that should be a regular addition to every kitchen. Related to other stalk vegetables like carrots and celery, fennel has a slightly sweet, mild licorice flavor and is a great addition in soups and salads and pairs well with fish, pork, and poultry.

1. The entire plant is edible.

Yep, you can eat the whole thing-seeds, bulb, stalk, and leaves. The crunchy bulb is great for salads, while the stalks and fronds are perfect for making soups and stock. The fronds can also be treated as an herb and added to any dish for an extra pop of flavor. Try using the seeds to make this wine-baked halibut with mustard-fennel butter.

2. Fennel = fiber.

Fennel is very high in fiber, with 7 grams per bulb (28% of our daily recommended intake).  Getting enough dietary fiber not only aids digestive health, but it can also lower cholesterol, help achieve and maintain a healthy weight, and even lower the risk of type 2 diabetes by keeping blood sugar levels down.

Try this apple, fennel, and walnut salad recipe

3. It promotes allover health.

Fennel has 27% of the recommended daily intake of potassium, which can help lower blood pressure. Fennel is also high in vitamins, C, A, B6, and K, as well as iron, calcium, selenium, and magnesium. That means it helps support bone and heart health, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and can even help prevent cancer.

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eat more fennel and the health benefits

4. It's known for medicinal properties.

Fennel is used medicinally in many cultures. It has traditionally been used for increasing the flow of breast milk, promoting menstruation, easing childbirth, and increasing libido. Fennel tea is often used for detoxing and aiding digestion, as well as calming bloating, upset stomach, heartburn, or soothing a sore throat.

5. It calms colic.

One study of 125 colicky infants found that fennel eliminated or significantly improved colic in 65% of those treated with a fennel seed oil emulsion. Fennel tinctures, tea, and essential oil mixed in with a carrier oil and applied to the stomach or chest are also common natural colic treatments.

Try this citrus fennel summer salad recipe

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Lisa Roth Collins, RHN
Lisa Roth Collins is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) and is the Marketing Manager at NaturallySavvy.com. She is passionate about health and wellness and tries her best to make healthier choices every day for herself and her family. Her journey to natural health was driven by her own struggles with digestive discomfort, depression, and anxiety. Lisa returned to school in 2014 to study nutrition at the Canadian School for Natural Nutrition. She threw herself into her studies so she could learn as much as she could to help herself feel better and thrive. Upon completing the program and being certified as an RHN, Lisa began her work at Naturally Savvy where she has been able to help so many people learn to make healthier choices for themselves. Through her work, she has connected with so many incredible people in the industry whether other authors, influencers, or brands. Plus, she is affectionately known as "Techie Spice" because of her ability to wrap her head around technology. Every day she gets up with a renewed sense of energy and ready to make a difference. You can read all of Lisa's content here. In her spare time, Lisa loves to try new recipes, make delicious and nourishing meals, and she is an avid reader. For more information about Lisa, check out her profile on here.