May suppress appetite

Fennel seeds may not only add depth and flavor to your meals, but they can also help you lose weight. A study of 9 healthy women found that those who drank 8.5 ounces (250 ml) of fennel seed tea before eating lunch felt considerably less hungry and consumed fewer calories than those who drank a placebo tea. Anethole, a significant component of fennel essential oil, may be responsible for the plant's appetite-suppressing properties.

However, in another trial of 47 women, those who took 300 mg of fennel extract daily for 12 weeks gained only a little amount of weight when compared to a placebo group. They also did not see a decrease in appetite. Research in this area is contradictory, and additional research is needed to properly understand fennel's possible appetite-suppressing qualities.