Want to see fennel seed benefits and side effects every ethical consumer must know? Here are the pros and cons of fennel seeds and how buying them will impact your health, the environment, animals and laborers.
Food is something we consume every day and if you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on fennel seed benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about fennel seed benefits and side effects such as fennel seed health benefits and/or risks, fennel seed water footprint and/or fennel seed carbon footprint, fennel seed sustainability, if fennel seeds are vegan, and more.
After learning if fennel seeds are good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be prepared to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about fennel seed benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Must-Know Fennel Seed Benefits And Side Effects
Health | Fennel seed benefits for health may include:
- blood sugar regulation
- increased milk secretion in breastfeeding women
- inhibited growth of potentially harmful bacteria and yeasts
- relieved menopausal symptoms (improve sexual function and satisfaction in menopausal women, as well as relieve hot flashes, vaginal itching, dryness, pain during sex, and sleep disturbances)
- mental health
- boosted metabolism
- reduced aging-related memory deficits
- suppressed appetite
- tissue repair
- bone development
- detoxification
- fight and prevent cancer
- heart health and lower risk of heart disease
- lower high cholesterol
- lowered risk of neurological diseases
- reduced high blood pressure
- reduced inflammation
- type 2 diabetes prevention
- collagen synthesis
- lowered risk of obesity and weight loss
- wound healing
Additionally, fennel seed benefits include being…
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
★★★★★
- Plastic-free storage.
- Keeps food fresh.
- Organizes your kitchen.
- We love it!
Environment
Water footprint: high, it takes 8,280 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of fennel seeds / 992 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of fennel seeds
Carbon footprint: unknown
Destruction: low, fennel seed production is relatively sustainable, there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc.
Fennel seeds are…
- Moderately Sustainable
Animals
Kills: none, fennel seed production does not require any animals to be killed
Harms: none, fennel seed production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly kills or harms: none, no animals are indirectly killed or harmed from fennel seed production as long as toxic chemicals have not been used, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Fennel seeds are…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystems unless organic
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Fennel seeds…
- May have laborer issues
Where do most fennel seeds come from? 📍
India is the world’s leading producer of fennel seeds followed by Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Germany, Spain and Pakistan also making significant contributions to global production.
The world’s top fennel seed exporting country is China, followed by Egypt, Germany, India, Turkey, Spain, Vietnam, Macedonia, Finland and Lithuania.
Are fennel seeds nutritious? 🥗
Yes! Fennel seeds contain Copper, Potassium, Calcium, Zinc, Manganese, Vitamin C, Iron, Selenium and Magnesium.
fennel seeds are gluten free.
Are fennel seeds gluten free?
Yes, fennel seeds are gluten free. Fennel seeds are a naturally gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
fennel seeds are not a common food allergen.
Are fennel seeds a common food allergen?
No, fennel seeds are not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to fennel seeds but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
- milk
- eggs
- fish
- crustacean shellfish
- tree nuts
- peanuts
- wheat
- soybeans
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
fennel seeds have a high water footprint.
Do fennel seeds have a high or low water footprint?
Fennel seeds have a relatively high water footprint compared to other foods.
What is the water footprint of fennel seeds?
It takes 8,280 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of fennel seeds / 992 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of fennel seeds.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource?
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of “water footprints”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
fennel seeds are moderately sustainable.
Overall, are fennel seeds eco friendly? Are fennel seeds sustainable?
Fennel seed production is moderately sustainable due to its high water consumption. Aside from this, there is no known significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. as long as pesticides have not been used. Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
A 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
fennel seeds are vegan.
Are fennel seeds vegan?
Yes, fennel seeds are vegan. Fennel seeds are a seed and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non Vegan Foods List
fennel seeds are a product that may or may not have labor issues.
Are fennel seeds a product with laborer concerns?
At this time there are no major concerns with fennel production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening! It’s important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may come with specific brands.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks. Consequently, laborers can face nausea, dizziness, heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke -the leading cause of farmworker death!
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
This post was all about fennel seed benefits and side effects.
Sources:
Spices, fennel seed – FoodData Central
