What you must remember:
- Fennel is an aromatic plant used in particular in herbal medicine.
- Its fenchone, anethole and estragole content gives it antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective properties and promotes optimal digestive transit.
- It is important to respect the dosage and contraindications of taking supplements based on fennel seeds
What is Fennel?
Fennel is an aromatic plant belonging to the Apiaceae family native to the Mediterranean basin used in cooking as a condiment and in the food industry in the form of an additive. It is very similar to certain other aromatic plants such as caraway , cumin or dill. Its seeds are mainly used for their medicinal properties. The active ingredients are recovered in the form of essential oils. Among its components, we find trans-anethole, estragole and fenchone.
The benefits and virtues of Fennel
Fennel and digestion
Scientific studies have highlighted the benefits of fennel. they demonstrated better assimilation of nutrients following supplementation with fennel seed powder. Indeed, this is due to a restructuring of intestinal morphology and an improvement in the growth of microorganisms beneficial to the flora called intestinal microbiota . The villi, which constitute the intestinal wall and which are the place of assimilation of nutrients, are larger and reinforced thanks to a consolidation of the junctions between the cells. This promotes good intestinal motility. The latter is essential for an optimal digestive system and a reduction in discomfort.
Its antispasmodic properties allow it to reduce the occurrence of intestinal pain and fight against bloating , flatulence and gas , especially thanks to its high fenchone content.
Fennel and liver
The benefits of fennel also affect the liver. Indeed, supplementation with fennel seeds has shown hepatoprotective effects. Like many plants , it has been identified that the latter allows better protection of liver cells against potential damage and against oxidation.
Fennel and antioxidant properties
Fennel seeds have powerful antioxidant benefits. Indeed, their consumption leads to a reduction in lipid peroxidation, an oxidation reaction in cells which considerably reduces oxidative stress.
Fennel and anti-inflammatory properties
Due to its antioxidant benefits and strengthening of the intestinal barrier , fennel helps fight against oxidative stress and thus limit the impact of inflammatory processes in the body. Indeed, by strengthening the intestinal barrier, the entry of pathogenic compounds that can cause inflammatory responses is limited. In addition, the action of the microbiota is stronger and makes it possible to fight against the accumulation of pro-inflammatory molecules within the body as well as their consequences.
Fennel and antimicrobial properties
Numerous studies have been carried out to demonstrate the antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic effect of fennel seeds thanks to the anethole which composes it.
Indications and dosage of Fennel
The consumption of supplements based on fennel seeds in the form of essential oil, powder or capsules is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women and for women who have suffered from ovarian, uterine or breast cancer due to of its composition in phytoestrogens (anethole). In addition, it is not recommended for people with an allergy to apiaceae (celery, cumin, dill, etc.) and for people undergoing treatment that may cause photosensitization indicated by the sun present on the medication packaging.
In order to avoid the risk of anethole toxicity, the daily dose of dried fennel should not exceed 7 g per day and the intake should not be prolonged for more than 2 continuous weeks. Overconsumption can cause convulsions and significant fatigue.
Adverse effects are rare but some people may experience an allergic reaction following ingestion.
Bring Fennel to your body thanks to DIJO
In order to combat bloating, at DIJO, we have developed a range of supplements to combat this intestinal discomfort. We have included fennel seed powder in the composition of our 5-day reset , a real ally to fight against bloating, flatulence and find a flat stomach. It wonderfully completes our dream stomach pack cure to say goodbye to a swollen stomach and regain a stable weight.
This treatment should be taken as part of a balanced lifestyle in order to obtain deep and lasting effects.
Sources :
[1] Fennell. (2023). In Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
[2] Samadi-Noshahr, Z., Hadjzadeh, MA, Moradi-Marjaneh, R., & Khajavi-Rad, A. (2020). The hepatoprotective effects of fennel seeds extract and trans-Anethole in streptozotocin-induced liver injury in rats. Food science & nutrition, 9(2), 1121–1131. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.2090
[3] Ozbek, H., Uğraş, S., Dülger, H., Bayram, I., Tuncer, I., Oztürk, G., & Oztürk, A. (2003). Hepatoprotective effect of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil. Fitoterapia, 74(3), 317–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0367-326x(03)00028-5
[4] Liu, H., Li, J., Lin, S., Liu, T., & Zheng, C. (2021). Effects of dietary fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) seed powder supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, small intestinal morphology, and carcass traits of broilers. PeerJ, 9, e10308. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10308
[5] Das, B., Rabalais, J., Kozan, P., Lu, T., Durali, N., Okamoto, K., McGeough, MD, Lee, BJ, Barrett, KE, Marchelletta, R., & Sivagnanam, M. (2022). The effect of a fennel seed extract on the STAT signaling and intestinal barrier function. PloS one, 17(7), e0271045. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0271045
[6] Yakut, HI, Koyuncu, E., Cakir, U., Tayman, C., Koyuncu, İ., Taskin Turkmenoglu, T., Cakir, E., Ozyazici, A., Aydogan, S., & Zenciroglu , A. (2020). Preventative and therapeutic effects of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seed extracts against necrotizing enterocolitis. Journal of food biochemistry, 44(8), e13284.
