DavidWolfe.comAsafoetida is a resinous gum that comes from the stem and roots of a perennial fennel plant. It’s often used as a spice in Indian cooking. As a natural antispasmodic, expectorant, sedative and laxative, asafoetida offers many health benefits. Add it to your meals to spice up your food, improve digestion and prevent gastrointestinal problems. Health benefits of asafoetida include the ability to relieve asthma, lower blood pressure, treat IBS, control blood sugar and more. It’s also free of FODMAP sugars, which means it’s easy to digest!
Health Benefits of Asafoetida
1. Relieves Asthma
Health benefits of asafoetida include the ability to treat asthma. It works by stimulating the respiratory system to help release phlegm and relieve congestion. Asafoetida can be used as an asthma natural remedy thanks to its ability to clear the lungs and improve breathing.
3. Helps Treat IBS
Health benefits of asafoetida include the ability to help treat irritable bowel syndrome. IBS can cause diarrhea, constipation, bloating, cramping, gas and other uncomfortable symptoms. Asafoetida works as a natural remedy for irritable bowel syndrome, to help reduce and relieve painful symptoms.
3. Lowers Blood Pressure
Health benefits of asafoetida include the ability to naturally lower blood pressure. Asafoetida contains a compound called coumarin, which helps improve blood flow. Coumarin helps to thin the blood, in order to prevent clotting. Research has shown that health benefits of asafoetida include the ability to improve cardiovascular health by relaxing the body and helping to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. (1)
4. Controls Blood Sugar
Health benefits of asafoetida include the ability to naturally control blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that the phenolic acids in asafoetida help lower high blood sugar levels and promote healthy blood sugar maintenance. Ferulic acid in particular, found in asafoetida, helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels. (2)
5. FODMAP Friendly
Health benefits of asafoetida include the fact that it’s FODMAP friendly. FODMAP, which stands forfermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols, refers to the specific sugars found in foods that the human body is not able to fully absorb. FODMAP sugars can cause gastrointestinal problems like IBS, constipation and diarrhea. Asafoetida is free of these sugars and easy for the body to digest. It can be used to spice up a dish in place of onions and garlic, which both contain some of the FODMAP sugars. Many people who suffer from IBS and other digestive problems experience significant gastrointestinal problems after eating foods that contain FODMAP’s.
6. Reduces Flatulence
Health benefits of asafoetida include the ability to naturally reduce flatulence. It works by alleviating and preventing excessive intestinal gas after meals. Health benefits of asafoetida also include the ability to be combined with lentils and other legumes to help reduce gas after eating. (3)