The vegetable, leaves and seeds taste a little like aniseed or licorice. Fennel is a fat digester, stimulates the metabolism, and regulates blood fats. It has properties that are cleansing especially to the liver and the digestive system. Fennel is renowned as a diuretic (relieving fluid retention) releasing water stored in fat cells.

In days gone by people would take fennel seeds to church, they would chew on them during very long church services to stave off hunger. So they are good for slimming and curbing the appetite.

Fennel can help with all sorts of menstrual problems, and menopausal problems due to the phyto-estrogens, natural plant compounds.

Fennel salad

4 – 6 small or 2 -3 large fennel bulbs

2 sweet oranges, peeled and sliced

Fresh basil leaves

Olive oil

Apple cider vinegar

Herbal salt

Fresh pepper

Slice the fennel bulbs very thinly then place all the ingredients into a large bowl, and mix. Serve with chicken.