Many of us love and often use fragrant spicy seasoning - dill, whose beneficial properties and contraindications are well known to the followers of traditional medicine. This green plant has long been used in cooking, giving dishes a peculiar aroma and taste of summer. First courses, various salads, pickles, sauces, marinades and side dishes are rarely dispensed with the addition of fragrant herbs. Despite the undeniable taste, today we will focus on the beneficial characteristics of this plant.
Dill photo:
It is sometimes confused with a pharmacy "relative" - fennel and sometimes with caraway seeds, but despite some similarities, these are completely different seasonings.
What is the use of dill for the human body? Its chemical composition includes carbohydrates, fats, proteins, essential oils, flavonoids, carotenoids, phosphorus. There is a wide list of B vitamins, as well as calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, selenium, copper, zinc, magnesium. There is acid in dill: nicotinic, linolenic, folic. Sure, this plant is good for health, but there are some limitations to its use that you need to know about. Let's take a closer look at all the nuances.
Dill - health benefits and harms
This aromatic culture has a useful feature for the gastrointestinal tract - cleansing of food residues, improving digestion. All parts of the plant are used for food and treatment; fruits (seeds) are of particular value. They have a diuretic, bactericidal, calming, antispasmodic effect. It is noteworthy that when using a decoction or infusion of dill, the therapeutic effect covers all areas of the body, and not just a specific area.
What is the use of dill for the body:
- With bronchitis, colds, coughs, it has a calming, expectorant effect. In infectious diseases such as influenza, acute respiratory infections, the plant shows its anti-inflammatory properties. Fruits rich in essential oil, seeds can be brewed and drunk, used for inhalation, even just chewed. You can also periodically use a decoction of seeds or herbs for preventive purposes to strengthen immunity.
- The use of dill is due to the pronounced choleretic effect, it activates the production of gastric juice, has a general beneficial effect on the digestive tract. For constipation, flatulence, it is highly recommended to use "dill water", a decoction of seeds or fresh grass. From time immemorial, childhood colic has been successfully treated with this drug. It is beneficial for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the duodenum.
- Regular use of spices in food positively affects the work of the heart muscle, blood vessels. In this case, contraindications for use should be carefully studied so as not to aggravate the situation. The contraindications themselves will be discussed later.
- The healing properties of dill are manifested in diseases of the genitourinary system. Symptoms of cystitis are successfully stopped by a decoction of seeds, which it is desirable to grind beforehand on a coffee grinder. With urinary incontinence (in people of any age), it is also recommended to use dill broth for a rather long time.
- A hot infusion can even relieve a headache, from regular use (a couple of months), a long preventive effect will be preserved. This is an excellent natural remedy, comparable in effectiveness with the action of strong medicines. With increased pressure and vasospasm, such a decoction also has a healing effect.
- The beneficial properties of dill have a soft, but lasting effect on the body. The infused broth is recommended for people with excessive irritability, breakdowns of the nervous system. For this, you can also take a bath with a steeply infused infusion of grass or seeds of a plant, about 20 minutes before bedtime will be enough. A good dill broth for young children, in addition to getting rid of colic, it has a calming effect on them, and promotes a quiet sleep.
There is still a radical, but no less effective method for calming the nerves - wine with the fruits of dill. Take 10 teaspoons of seeds and pour a bottle (500 ml) of good red wine, insist about 10 days, filter and take 50 ml before bedtime.
Dill, photo:
Now let's look at the contraindications to the use of this green doctor:
- Remember that this plant is able to significantly reduce pressure. If it is predominantly low (hypotension), then it is better to abandon the use of dill infusions. Even if you eat a salad seasoned with a fair amount of greens, the effect of lowering the pressure will take place. The general weakness of the body is also an occasion to use aromatic spice very carefully.
- Individual intolerance and allergies are a good reason not to use dill at all. This plant is rich in essential oils, so busting with “treatment” can cause the exact opposite effect (stress, increased heart rate, difficulty breathing). An overdose is also worth adding to this point - eating grass in large quantities (for example, with a "green" diet) can lead to intestinal atony and even a decrease in vision.
- Women during critical days should limit the use of dill, because it has the ability to thin the blood and thereby increase its loss to the body.
An important detail that should be taken into account is the location of the dill. For treatment, as well as food should be taken only those plants that have grown in an environmentally friendly place, away from dust and roads. When this culture grows, it intensely absorbs all kinds of elements in the air, including harmful ones. Therefore, remember that you will use it inside.
Fruits (seeds) photo:
What is the use of dill for men?
This plant, of course, has a positive effect on the human body, however, you should know that it can affect men and women in different ways. Dill has a vasodilating effect, which also positively affects the strength of male potency, increases its duration. In dill, what vitamins? As mentioned above, this plant has a rich vitamin composition: PP, A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, E, but most of all in this spice is vitamin C.
In the complex, these organic, biologically active substances have undeniable benefits to the body, increase immunity, give strength. Therefore, for men's health it is highly recommended to regularly use green branches of dill. Even in antiquity, this plant was considered an aphrodisiac - and not without reason, since it is really capable of provoking sexual desire. This factor is very important for men, especially middle-aged ones, the famous medieval physician Ibn Sina (Avicenna) in his works dug a big niche in dill and, apparently, for a reason.
What is the use of dill for women?
Useful elements that make up the plant (flavonoids and B-spectrum vitamins) normalize the female cycle and reduce pain during critical days. But here it is necessary to observe a measure, since excessive use of grass or seeds can provoke increased bleeding. For those women who breastfeed babies, dill is also very important - it is a natural, harmless product that can increase milk production.
Useful decoction of seeds, photo:
What is the use of dill for appearance? Infusion or decoction from this plant is used to improve the condition of the skin of the face. The anti-inflammatory effect also manifests itself well with external use: acne, redness, various irritations are well removed by lotions or even simple but regular rubbing. The grass is also often added to various anti-aging masks, used for steam baths. In addition, pores are cleaned with fresh green juice, pigment spots and freckles are reduced. It is noted that the broth optimizes hair growth, improves the condition of nails.
Dill for weight loss
Considering that dill is low-calorie greens, and seeds are a storehouse of useful components, it is quite reasonable to use it to get rid of excess weight. As mentioned above, this plant improves the function of the digestive tract - and this is an important factor for comfortable weight loss. Moreover - this spice stops the manifestations of flatulence, which inevitably accompany the transition to a vegetable, fruit or cereal diet, vegetable nutrition.
The calorie content of greens is 38 kcal per 100 g, and the caloric content of seeds is 305 kcal per 100 g. But this indicator does not mean that grass can be used uncontrollably in bundles. Remember about the oversaturation of the body with the substances that it contains! But chewing a few seeds is very useful - they are high-calorie, so they relieve hunger and reduce fermentation in the digestive tract. Do not forget that this plant has a calming effect, and this factor is also important for nervous overeating, which often accompanies the transition to a diet.
Is dill good for losing weight? This spice contributes to better digestibility of food, its easy digestion, removal of excess fluid, toxins, toxins and salts. Especially noticeable is the effect of fluid loss at the beginning of the use of herbal decoctions and infusions from seeds. If you regularly drink these useful “teas,” then the accumulation of harmful components in the body will come to naught, and the weight that has passed away will not come back. Remember that in the struggle for harmony, you should not rely only on dill, the useful properties of which are just an addition to working on yourself. Properly organized nutrition, exercise, along with the use of herbs and fruits of this plant will lead you to the desired result. For the preparation of infusions or decoctions, you can use fresh and dried herbs, seeds.
Dill during pregnancy
The use of this plant for pregnant women is due to its ability to stimulate lactation - that is, to prepare the woman’s body for the normal production of milk after childbirth. A decoction of seeds should be used with extreme caution and be sure to consult a doctor. Remember that excessive passion for dill teas can cause a miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy.
Dill during pregnancy (the reasonable use of decoctions and infusions) helps to cope with toxicosis, especially in the early stages. Constipation or upset stools, swelling, cystitis, mood swings - if they are not completely stopped, they are substantially corrected by taking decoctions, infusions based on dill. They should be taken no more than 3 times a day, be sure to eat.
To maximize the useful components from dill, use freshly picked plants, preferably grown in your own garden or in an environmentally friendly place. The best qualities are shown by the very grass that was torn at least 20 minutes ago. Lightly dried or dried herbs can also be used for their intended purpose, but it will already be deprived of a significant part of its useful components. Do not forget, before consuming dill, the medicinal properties and contraindications of this plant should be agreed with your doctor, taking into account the characteristics of your body. Be healthy!
Green doctor in the garden, photo: