Fennel Seeds Health Benefits and Nutrition Facts

Nutritional summary

Fennel seeds are notable for their mineral density, particularly as a plant-based source of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and sodium .
The seeds contain anethole, a compound chemically similar to the neurotransmitter dopamine, which acts as a relaxant on intestinal smooth muscle to help reduce abdominal cramping and improve digestion .
Fennel seeds exhibit estrogenic effects due to constituents like dianethole and photoanethole, which have been used in traditional and clinical settings to manage symptoms of menopause and lactation .
A meta-analysis of clinical trials suggests that fennel extracts may be effective in reducing symptoms of infantile colic, though researchers note that more high-quality evidence is needed due to variability in study designs .

Interesting fact

In ancient Greece, fennel was known as 'marathon' because it grew on the site of the famous battle, and its name literally translates to 'place of fennel'.

Standout nutrients

EPIC

SOURCE

Manganese

EPIC

SOURCE

Dietary fibre

EPIC

SOURCE

Copper

EPIC

SOURCE

Magnesium

327

kcal per 100g

Protein15.8g

Fat14.9g

Fiber39.8g

Sugar12.5g

Fat breakdown

Polyunsat1.65g

Monounsat9.61g

Saturated0.47g

Seasonality

Not available

Diet

VeganVegetarianPescatarianGluten FreeDairy FreeKetoLow FodmapPaleo

Sustainability

Lighter footprint

Spices generally have a low environmental footprint due to minimal water requirements and high density.

Confidencemedium

Storage

Airtight Container

1–2 years

Store in a cool, dark place to preserve volatile oils.

Flavour

Data & Sources

Harmonized from 2 validated sources

French Food Database

1 contributing source food

McCance & Widdowson

1 contributing source food

Claim citations

Foeniculum vulgare Mill: A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry ...

[1]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An overview of systematic reviews of complementary and alternative therapies for infantile colic - PMC

[4]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fennel Tea Has a Region‐Specific Effect on the Motility of the Stomach - PMC

[5]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Irritable bowel syndrome and diet - PMC

[6]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Frequently Used Herbal Teas During Pregnancy - Short Update - PMC

[9]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Coverage

Nutrients

FoodCompass

99.8

Version

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