Star anise is a spice that is appreciated not only for cooking but also for many health benefits of users. Let’s see what those benefits are!
What is Star Anise?
Star anise is the seed pod from the fruit of the Illicium verum plant, an evergreen shrub native to Southwest China. The star anise pod has an average of eight points, each containing a single pea-sized seed.
Star anise is a spice tree, growing a lot in Vietnam. The tree is 6 – 10 meters high with a big and straight trunk, straight smooth branches, has light blue color when young and later turns to greyish brown.
Benefits of Star Anise to your health
Star Anise Benefits for Skin
With a relatively high level of various antioxidants, star anise can help to promote the elimination of faree radicals throughout the body, particularly those that can cause oxidative stress in the skin. This can help minimize the appearance of wrinkles, boost skin elasticity, and cover-up old scars and blemishes to keep your skin looking young and vibrant.
Helps improve the body’s immune system
One of the important stars anise health benefits is improving the immune system. The antibacterial effects of star anise are widely researched and well known. So, people use this spice to treat bacterial infections of the stomach and other body parts for centuries. Morover, this spice appears to be effective against several antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, making it very valuable to the pharmaceutical industry.
Treatment of respiratory diseases
More specifically, star anise helps in supporting respiratory health, so if you have a cough or a sore throat, or feel the early stirrings of the flu, a cup of anise tea may be able to sort out the inflammation rap
idly and neutralize the underlying infection before more severe symptoms arise.
Relax and improve sleep
Numerous studies have found that star anise possesses some level of sedative properties attributed to the antioxidant levels and the magnesium content of the spice. In detail, it can stimulate the release of certain neurotransmitters that induce relaxation and sleep, making this spice valuable for people who have insomnia and regularly interrupted sleep patterns.
Anti-fungal ability
Most notably, this spice has powerful anti-fungal properties. It has been a trusted natural remedy for many fungal infections, including Athlete’s foot, ringworm, Candida, and other common strains. When we talk about the star anise tea benefits, a regular dosage of star anise tea can give your immune system the necessary boost against these pathogens.
Digestive Support
Anecdotal evidence points to star anise as being an effective digestive, and the fruits are commonly eaten after meals to promote proper digestion. It can also help relieve bloating and excess flatulence while easing cramping and improving the bacterial balance in your gut for high nutrient uptake efficiency.
Provide physiological health
The effects of star anise on hormone levels are widely studied, as it can have quite a powerful effect on both men and women. In men, it can provide an energy boost and increase sex drive. Whereas, in women, it can regulate menstrual cycles, control mood swings, and other hormone-driven side effects of menstruation.
Reduce the risk of cancer
The diverse range of antioxidants in this spice, from quercetin and kaempferol to thymol and coumaric acid, therefore can all affect oxidative stress in the body. By reducing free radical levels and supporting the immune system, there is a lower risk of mutagenic effects in the body, leading to cancer cells and tumor formation.
Easy to Incorporate Into Your Cooking
Star anise has a distinct licorice flavor similar to that of anise or fennel, though it’s not related to either of these spices. It pairs well with coriander, cinnamon, …
In cooking, people use star anise whole or as a powder.
It’s often utilized in classical Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines; especially as a flavor enhancer in broths, soups and curries.
In traditional Chinese and folk medicine practices, people steeped star anise in water to make a tea. Also, It used to treat respiratory infections, nausea, constipation and other digestive issues.
Star anise also makes a great addition to sweet dishes and desserts, such as baked fruit, pies, quick bread and muffins.
Rich in Powerful Bioactive Compounds
Herbs and spices are often unsung heroes of the health and nutrition world and star anise may be no exception.
Information on its vitamin and mineral content is lacking, but considering the small amount of spice you may use at any one time, its nutritional value may be less significant.
Nonetheless, it’s an impressive source of several powerful bioactive compounds — all of which are vital contributors to good health.
The most valuable component of star anise may lie within its dense supply of flavonoids and polyphenols. These may primarily be responsible for the spice’s broad applications and medicinal benefits.
Offers Medicinal Benefits
Star anise has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. It has also been accepted into some Western medicine practices more recently. Its rise in popularity is largely driven by its antimicrobial properties and pharmacological potential.
One of the most popular pharmacologically relevant attributes of star anise is its shikimic acid content.
Shikimic acid is a compound with strong antiviral capabilities. In fact, it’s one of the main active ingredients in Tamiflu, a popular medication for the treatment of influenza.
For instance, people use star anise as the primary source of shikimic acid used for pharmaceutical product development.
Antibacterial Benefits
Another important medicinal benefit of star anise is its ability to inhibit bacterial growth.
Some research has revealed that star anise extract is as effective as antibiotics against multiple drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. This may be particularly useful for future development of new antibiotic medications.
Besides, test-tube studies have also shown that bioactive compounds in star anise may be effective in treating urinary tract infections caused by different bacteria.
To buy Star Anise at the best price, you can contact Vihaba directly through:
Email: export@vihaba.vn
Whatsapp number: +84 337 817 565.
Read more about our spices in there:
Other topics:
What is Star Anise? Origin, Taste and Usage. Where to buy it?