5 Reasons Why Fennel Is Healthy For Babies

Fennel is believed to have originated between Middle Eastern Asia and South Eastern Asia in India. It is one of the most important ingredients in Indian cuisine as well as in Mediterranean as well as in Arab cuisine. Apart from being added as a condiment in various cuisines, people in India have fennel seeds after a heavy meal, as it is believed to be an aid for digestion.

Yes, fennel can be given to your baby. But, it must be given in very small quantities. It must only be given as a medicine and not as a nutrient food. The best way to give fennel is by boiling small quantity of fennel in water, filter the water with a cloth, remove all the pieces of fennel and feed the fennel water to the baby. As fennel is given only in the form of tea, the earliest age of introduction is about 1 month.

# Remedy for colic

Colic is a painful stomach cramps that is usually seen in babies. One of the major causes for colic is trapped gas in stomach. Fennel acts as a good remedy for colic as it has flatulence reducing properties. A baby with colicky crying can be given a fennel boiled and filtered water. It is advised to give this water in small quantities not more than 150 ml/ dosage, three times a day for about a week. Apart from this, fennel oil is also very useful for reducing infantile colic.

# Remedy for digestive disorders

Fennel is also useful in reducing digestive disorders. A spoonful of fennel seeds when boiled in 100 to 150 ml of water for about ½ hour is very effective in treating indigestion, biliousness, flatulence and atonic dyspepsia.

# Natural laxative

Fennel tea is also beneficial for constipation. Giving your baby, fennel tea relieves from constipation. Constipation is known to occur in babies who are bottle-fed. In bottle-fed babies, bacteria start breeding and stops friendly bacteria from growing, which help in peristaltic movements in the colon. Fennel tea is helpful in clearing constipation resulting in a healthy digestive system and healthy baby.

# Remedy for respiratory diseases

Fennel seeds are also helpful in relieving from respiratory disorders such as cough, asthma, bronchitis and lung abscesses. Juice of fennel leaves is beneficial for these respiratory diseases. If fennel leaves are not available, then tea of fennel seeds can also be used.

# Antimicrobial properties

Fennel seeds contain antimicrobial properties. The antimicrobial properties control bacteria as well as fungal species. Most importantly, pathogenic microbes were controlled by fennel.