“D” is for Dill « Health Now, Wealth Forever

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By Gary, on January 21st, 2013

What benefit do you get when you use a bit of dill herb on your food?  Well, the health benefits of using dill on your food are surprisingly significant.

Without delving into bio-chemistry, I went to several web sites to see what chemicals are normally found in dill that assist our bodies and make us healthier.  Now – if you haven’t used dill on your food when cooking, you are missing out on a very pleasant tasting herb. If you use it once, you will use it again and again.  I am positive there are other herbs that can be substituted for dill, providing your body nearly the same benefits.  For now though let’s take a look at the “health benefits of eating dill”.

What is in the dill herb? Dill contains:

Dill has many medicinal properties, which mainly come from certain compounds called Monoterpenes, Flavonoids, minerals and certain amino acids.

Without being a bio-chemist, how do these improve my health, you may ask?  Well, the chemists tell us that the consumption of dill can:

  • Digestion:  The essential oils present in dill are stimulant and activate secretion of bile and digestive juices.
  • Insomnia:  Essential oils found in herbs have a peculiar property. They are both a stimulant and sedative or hypnotic, that is, they stimulate as well as pacify. The essential oils in dill are no different. The Flavonoids and vitamin-B complex present in its essential oils, being stimulant in nature, activates secretion of certain enzymes and hormones which have calmative and hypnotic effects, thereby helping have a good sleep.  Dill can be consumed in water or the seeds can be chewed for their calming effect. Some cultures place dill leaves over the eyes to aid sleep.
  • Hiccups:  Hiccups are primarily due to trapping and repeated upward movement of gases through the food pipe and secondarily due to certain allergies, hypersensitivity, hyperactivity and nervous malfunctioning etc.  Dill can help in all of these situations, being a carminative it reduces gas formation and being sedative it helps calm down hiccups due to allergies.
  • Diarrhea:  Diarrhea is caused by indigestion and microbial action. For the first, dill can certainly help as it has very good digestive properties. For the second, it can help again since the Monoterpenes and Flavonoids oils are germicidal or bactericidal in nature and can help cure diarrhea by inhibiting microbial infections.
  • Dysentery:  Dysentery is caused by fungal infections.  Dill can help as its essential oils are disinfectant in nature and help inhibit fungal infection effectively.
  • Menstrual Disorders:  The Flavonoids in essential oils of dill are stimulant and Emenagogue in nature, that is, they stimulate secretion of certain hormones which help maintain proper menstrual cycles.
  • Respiratory Disorders:  Kaempferol and certain other components of Flavonoids and Monoterpenes in the essential oils of dill are anti-congestive and anti-histaminic help clear congestion in the respiratory system due to histamine, allergies or cough.
  • Oral Care:  Dill seeds and leaves are very good mouth fresheners. Apart from that, the essential oils in it are germicidal, anti-oxidant and disinfectant in nature, helping end microbial infections in the mouth and help minimize the damages caused to gums and teeth by the free radicals.
  • Cancer:  Monoterpenes comes under the lime light.  Monoterpenes activate secretion of an enzyme called glutathione-S-transferase which is very effective in neutralizing carcinogens, particularly Cyano- and Benzo- derivatives and free radicals, thereby protecting from cancer.
  • Other Benefits:
    • Relaxing
    • Fortifying
    • Diuretic
    • Anti-spasmodic
    • Anti-flatulent
    • Stimulates lactation and endocrinal secretions
    • Enhances libido
    • Ensures bone and dental health as a good source of calcium

Sources:

http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/dill-weed.html

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/seed-and-nut/health-benefits-of-dill.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/140378-health-benefits-dill-weed/

http://www.greenviewacres.com/apps/blog/show/15162014-5-fabulous-health-benefits-of-dill

http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/benefits-of-dill-6136.html