- Properties
- Contraindications
- Recommendations
- Recipes
The perennial herb grows in every garden plot. Its greens and seeds are used in cooking various dishes because of their spicy taste and strong, refreshing aroma. In cooking, it is considered an irreplaceable fragrant spice. But not many people know that the medicinal properties of dill and its rich chemical composition allow it to be used as part of any diet for weight loss.
Properties
The leaves contain a huge amount of biologically active substances: ascorbic and nicotinic acids, thiamine, carotene, riboflavin, flavonoids, carbohydrates, pectin, and a set of mineral salts.
The seeds harvested and stored in due time are rich in fatty oils and even proteins. The specific smell of the plant is due to the essential oil.
Dill is used in folk medicine for treating hypertension, kidney disease, diseases of the nervous system, hemorrhoids, and wound healing. Now nutritionists recommend using it for weight loss, but how does this plant contribute to weight loss?
Myth 1
There is an opinion that it belongs to the products with negative calories. However, this is not the case because it stimulates and improves digestion on the contrary. And we eat it in too small quantities to hamper stomach work.
Myth 2
The second myth says that dill essential oil has powerful fat burning properties. Again, the wrong opinion is due to the fact that such small doses cannot make such a revolution at the cellular level.
Truth
However, there are benefits for losing weight from this plant. First, it improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Recall that even newborns are given dill water to restore normal stomach function. And this is important for losing weight. Secondly, it has a diuretic effect. Therefore, with regular use, it will remove excess fluid from your body, taking away other harmful substances with it. As a result, you will lose 2-3 kg per week.
Origin of the name. The name “dill” comes from the Greek word “anethum”, which means “fragrant”.
Contraindications
However, do not take it too lightly: not everyone can lose weight with dill. Due to its diuretic effect and other properties affecting the functioning of internal organs, you need to know when its active use can lead to dangerous complications of health.
Contradictions include such diseases and conditions as:
- hypertension (may result in nausea, dizziness, and even fainting);
- allergy to it;
- pregnancy;
- lactation;
- kidney stones and gallbladder stones (they may start to move actively along the ducts, which will cause excruciating pain);
- menses (bleeding may increase).
If you have these problems, do not abuse dill, especially for the purpose of losing weight. It does not mean that it should not be eaten at all. A pinch of herbs on top of a dish will only benefit your body. However, regular inclusion of its seeds in your diet can cause health problems.
Interesting fact. In ancient times, dill was an ornamental plant, which was valued for its incredible aroma. Some people found it much more enjoyable than the smell of roses.
Recommendations
Dill inflorescences – umbrellas
How can dill be used for weight loss? After all, it is not a juicy and voluminous fruit or vegetable that can be used to arrange a full-fledged diet or fasting day. Here, the essence of fighting extra pounds is different. Follow simple recommendations to achieve results.
- Switch to a healthy eating system or a light but long-term diet.
- Actively include this plant in all its forms in your diet for a month. The daily rate is up to 200 g of herbs (dry or fresh) and about 2 glasses of liquid (decoction, dill water, tea).
- At the same time, do not forget to drink up to one and a half liters of plain water daily.
- Keep your body in good shape by playing sports or doing full-fledged motor activity.
You will agree that such a simple system does not require special expenses, effort, or time. It all depends only on your desire and mood. Moreover, you can use almost all parts of the plant:
- in June, it is simply a sin not to include young green dill (calories – 40 kcal) in the daily diet, using it in crushed form as a seasoning for almost all dishes – soups, side dishes, and salads;
- medicinal decoctions and infusions are prepared on the basis of greens, which will also help you lose weight if you know how to brew them correctly;
- do not forget to stock up on greens for future use in the first half of summer: dried dill, although not as healthy as green, still has a diuretic effect, which plays an important role in losing weight;
- closer to autumn, when the umbrellas begin to turn brown, they need to be collected in order to obtain the main value of the plant – seeds (305 kcal): they are dried, brewed, and added to dishes if the high concentration of essential oil in it does not make you feel sick.
Dill seeds
It is not worth saying that vacuum and wrapped packages in stores are not the best purchase. If you are seriously planning to take care of your figure and intend to use this plant for this purpose, try to grow it in your garden. The stems and leaves should be free of damage and bloom, otherwise they will not be of any use.
You need to know. Dill is a medicinal plant because when used and prepared correctly, it exerts vasodilating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, sedative, expectorant, carminative, antispasmodic, choleretic and diuretic effects on the body.
Recipes
As part of a diet, you can choose a certain recipe for a low-calorie and healthy dish with dill and actively include it in your diet.
- With kefir
Dill with kefir is a very dietary and healthy drink. It improves digestion and helps to remove all excess fluid from the body. Restriction – no more than one liter per day. This is an ideal dish for a fasting day.
Recipe: mix 1-2 tablespoons of chopped greens with a glass of skim milk. Can be blended. Some gourmands also add a pinch of black pepper, which has a fat-burning effect.
- With kefir and cucumber
This drink is not suitable for everyone. Yes, a cocktail, which includes kefir, cucumber, and dill, activates powerful processes in the body, but at the same time it has a pronounced not only diuretic, but also laxative effect. Therefore, you should not abuse it and it is better to drink it on your day off.
Recipe: blend 2 tablespoons of chopped greens, 1 small peeled cucumber, and a glass of skim milk. The daily volume depends on how you feel: from 1 to 5 glasses.
- With curd
Low-fat curd with dill is an ideal breakfast as part of any diet, fasting day, or just a healthy eating system. 20-30 g of chopped greens is used for 100 g of dairy product. You can add a little sour cream. One of the ways to cook is to blend it in a blender.
- With parsley
Often, dill and parsley are used together in dishes – let them also help you with losing weight. The uniqueness of this combo is
