When stomach pain and colds accompanied by coughing, a few SIPS of water with anise immediately improve health. Anise — a humble herb which is valued for its aromatic seeds, which are the spice. They are used not only in cooking but also in medicine. Botanists refer to the anise to the family Apiaceae and the genus Pimpinella. Its scientific name is Pimpinella anisum. This spice originates from the Middle East and the Mediterranean. I believe that it originally grew in Egypt. Like discussed earlier the walnut nutmeg, anise supports healthy digestion.
Anise is a herbaceous plant, which is a lot of interesting things written on the resource Nutrition And You. In July, it blooms with white, shaped like umbrellas, flowers. Collect it, cutting off the entire plant as soon as seeds ripen. The seeds are then separated by threshing from the heads of flowers.
Anise seeds have a sweet aromatic bouquet. This fragrance of anise is provided by him therein essential oil — anethole.
There is also a real star anise (star anise). This evergreen tree originates from China. Its fruits and seeds are also used as a condiment.
Benefits of anise health
Exotic anise spice contains some important chemical compounds of plant origin, are known for their antioxidant properties, ability to prevent disease and improve health.
The main component that gives the characteristic aroma of anise is anethole is a volatile essential oil contained in its seeds. Other important compounds found in the seeds of anise — Astragal, p-anisaldehyde (anisic aldehyde), anise alcohol, acetophenone, pinene and limonene.
The seed oil of anise is obtained from their extract. It has found application in many traditional medicines as a gastric, improve digestion, antiseptic, protivoyuznogo, carminative, expectorant, stimulant and tonic.
Anise seeds are an excellent source of many B-complex vitamins — pyridoxine, nicotinic acid, and thiamine Riboflavin. Pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) helps increase the level of neurochemical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain.
The seeds of this spice are also excellent source of minerals such as calcium, iron, copper, potassium, manganese, zinc and magnesium. In 100 grams of dry anise seed contains 36,96 milligrams (462% of the recommended daily allowance) of iron. Potassium is an important component of cells and fluids of the body that helps to control heart heart rate and blood pressure.
Copper acts as a factor related to many vital enzymes, including cytochrome c-oxidase and superoxide dismutase (other minerals are also functioning in the role of this enzyme related factors — manganese and zinc). Copper is also necessary for red blood cell production.
In significant quantities anise also contains anti-oxidant vitamins such as C and A.
The use of anise in medicine
Anise seeds and their oil are used in many traditional medicines and are appreciated for their characteristic ability to play a role in health promotion and disease prevention.
Anise preparations are an excellent therapeutic agents in asthma, bronchial cough and digestive disorders like flatulence, bloating, colicky abdominal pain, nausea and dyspepsia.
Anise essential oil to 75-90% anethole, with an observed estrogenic effect. A decoction of the seeds is frequently prescribed to nursing mothers to increase milk production.
Water, infused with anise seed, is considered a remedy to alleviate runny nose in infants.
In India, anise seeds are chewed after meals to freshen the breath.
Despite all the wonderful properties of anise, to use drugs based on it should be only after consulting with the doctor, sensing information from the Internet only as an auxiliary and in no way relying on it.
Nutritional value of anise seed
Numbers in parentheses are the percentage of daily intake. Nutritional values are per 100 grams of anise seeds according to information from the Ministry of agriculture of the USA published on the resource Nutrition And You.
General information:
energy value 337 kcal (17%);
carbohydrates 50.02 per gram (38%);
protein — 17,60 grams (31%);
fats is 15.90 grams (79%);
fibre, included food of 14.6 grams (38%).
Vitamins:
folic acid (vitamin B9) — 10 micrograms (2,5%);
nicotinic acid (vitamin B3) — 3,060 milligrams (19%);
Pantothenic acid — 0,797 milligrams (16%);
pyridoxine (vitamin B6) — 0,650 milligrams (50%);
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) — 0,290 milligrams (22%);
thiamin (vitamin B1) — 0,340 milligrams (28%);
vitamin A, which lot is contained in dandelion — 311 international units (IU, IU) is 10.5%;
vitamin C — 21 mg (35%).
Electrolytes:
sodium 16 mg (1%);
potassium — 1441 mg (31%).
Minerals:
calcium 646 mg (65%);
copper — 0,910 milligrams (101%);
iron — 36,96 milligrams (462%);
magnesium — 170 mg (42,5%);
manganese — 2,300 milligrams (100%);
phosphorus — 440 mg (63%);
selenium is 5.0 milligrams (9%);
zinc — 5,30 milligrams (48%).
Did you know earlier that anise — not only improves digestion, but also soothing for colds remedy?