Dill (Anethum graveolens) is an annual herb in the celery family Apiaceae. The herb has been used for culinary and medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. Both the seeds and the leaves can be used. While it is possible to buy and use dried dill, dill is one of those herbs that loses its flavor rapidly, so fresh is always your best choice.
Dill can be a perennial or annual herb, depending on where it is cultivated in the world. This herb is used in almost every continent to different extents. It can be used dry as a topping for a number of meals, but it is also used as an ingredient in many meals.
Health benefits
- Promotes Digestion: Dill itself is an appetizer, and therefore extensively used in culinary applications. The essential oils present in it are stimulating and they activate the secretion of bile and digestive juices.
- Provides Antimicrobial Effects: Dill has been shown to fight fungi, bacteria and mold, serving to fight fungal and bacterial infections.
- Lowers cholesterol: dill lowers bad cholesterol, blood glucose levels and lipid profiles.
- Boosts immunity: Dill has long been associated with antimicrobial activity. It has been shown to prevent a number of microbial infections throughout the body, those in various organs and those potential infections that land in wounds or small cuts on the skin.
- Prevents cancer: antioxidants in the essential oils of dill also contribute to this cancer protection that people enjoy from adding dill to their diet.
- May treat Epilepsy: Research shows dill leaf extract has anticonvulsant effects, which may help treat epilepsy.
- Boost Energy & aids Digestion: The fatty acids in dill weed improve digestion and supply energy to the body.
Dill weed is extremely beneficial and safe for most people, and it’s more versatile than just making dill pickles. You can use it in salads, dips, dressings and a whole other host of recipes, all of which help you receive some of the amazing dill benefits.
Since dill weed may help reduce menstrual cramps, reduce depression, lower cholesterol, act as a natural bug repellent, treat epilepsy, provide a source of energy, aid in digestion, contain antimicrobial effects and protect against free radicals, it’s something you should add to your diet today.