Best ways to consume fennel seeds for digestion, heart health

Fennel seeds are known for their cooling properties and strengthening the digesting fire and balance doshas. They are traditionally used as mouth freshener post meals and ease the digestive process. However, they are also known to lend recipes a unique flavour and aroma. Like several spices, fennel seeds have been used for culinary and medicinal purposes since immemorial. The seeds have a slightly sweet and licorice-like flavour, making them popular in Indian and Middle Eastern dishes, European baked goods, and liqueurs.
Ayurveda expert Dr. Dixa Bhavsar talks about the benefits of fennel seeds and the best way to eat them. She wrote, “In Ayurveda, it holds a special role in digestion. Because of its cooling and sweet properties, it specifically strengthens and warms Agni (the digestive fire) without provoking pitta. And as a tridoshic her, fennel is also balancing for vata and kapha, making it a great digestive choice for anyone to keep on hand. Fennel is also helpful for anyone experiencing post-digestive discomfort from excess vata by redirecting apana vayu downwards.”
She also listed the medicinal qualities of fennel seeds saying they are light to digest, oily, sweet, pungent, and bitter. She says fennel seeds improve strength and immunity, are useful in bleeding disorders due to excess heat, improve digestion, are good for the heart, are considered a cardiac tonic, and are useful in relieving pain during menses. She wrote, “As further support for women, fennel has a specific effect on rasa dhatu, promoting the flow of breast milk in nursing mothers.” The Ayurveda expert adds that fennel seeds also relieve krumi (worms), baddhavit (constipation), anila (Vata/bloating), daha (burning sensation), aruchi (Anorexia, lack of interest in food), chardi (vomiting) and kasa (cough, cold). As per Ayurveda, the sattvic qualities of fennel seeds are said to refresh the mind and promote mental alertness and are also considered rejuvenating for the eyes.
Best ways to consume fennel seeds:
• Have 1 tsp post meals for health to aid digestion
• You can also make a CCF tea from saunf for weight loss, diabetes, PCOS, thyroid, cholesterol and other gut issues.
• You can also have saunf as a sharbat for cooling down in case of severe pitta/heat issues.