Dill Leaves
Proven Health Benefits of Dill Leaves:
- Dill leaves are an effective treatment against diabetes
- Dill leaves are rich in antioxidants
- Dill leaves are able to sedate one to sleep and prevent insomnias
- Dill leaves aid bone health and prevent osteoporosis
- Dill leaves have carminative benefits and prevents build p of gas in the stom.
What is Dill?
Dill is mostly described as a hardy annual plant. It belongs to the family of Umbelliferae, same as parsley, and is known in the scientific community as Anethum graveolens L. or A. sowa (Indian dill). Dill is a long-standing culinary and medicinal herb, known to ancient Europe. The plant is virtually a frame of antioxidants, hence its leaves, stem, flowers and seeds all feature one way or the other in medicinal preparations. However, both in the culinary world and in medicine, the most important parts are the leaves and seeds. Only dill’s reputation stands tall, with the plant literally growing to a height of just 150cm, its stem being hollow, furrowed and branched. Its leaves are tripinnate with leaflets, accommodating tiny yellow flowers in due time. It bears dry, oval, schizocarp bean pods for fruits. Dill seeds and leaves both have their peculiar strong aromatic flavors that has earned them “spice” status over the ages.
What is the usefulness of Dill?
Water and organic acid extracts of dill leaves are shown to inhibit lipid peroxidation, citing antioxidant abilities. Dill seeds, which contain quercetin and isoharmentin in so large amounts are even observed to have higher antioxidant properties.1 In the treatment of diabetes, leaf and seed extracts are observed to reduce cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL and glucose.2 Essential oils in dill seed are able to inhibit bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Yersinia enterocolitica. Fungi, such as Aspergillus sp. and Alternaria alternata also receive their share of inhibition.3 Dill leaf and seed extracts were also seen to decrease pain and organ volumes in rats, showing their analgesic and antioxidant properties respectively. Studies in rats also show the benefit of dill seeds and leaves to the female reproductive system. It increased the estrous cycle, diestrus phase and progesterone concentration.
Health benefits
- Bacterial and Fungal inhibition
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Gastro-stress relief
- Antioxidant
- Reduce cholesterol
- Anti-inflammatory
- Protect epithelial tissue
Nutrition
Dill seed is rich in minerals (9%) and essential oils (3%). Minerals include Calcium Phosphorus, Sodium and Potassium. It is also rich in Vitamins A, B1, B2, C and Niacin. Essential oils in dill leaf include alpha and beta phellandrene, limonene and ρ-cymene, while those in the seed include carvone and dillapiole. Other phytochemicals present in dill leaf and seed include alkaloids, carbohydrate, resin, flavonosides, saponins, tannin and flavonoids.
Toxicity
Dill is not known to cause any adverse effects in food quantities, and is designated safe for pregnant and lactating mothers. Allergic reactions due to consumption of dill is very rare, but may produce effects such as vomiting, diarrhea and throat-swelling.