Areas of application for dill umbrellas: for treatment, beauty and cooking delicious dishes

Dill umbrellas are used as an aromatic seasoning for hot and cold dishes, salted, dried, used in various spice mixtures, and for preservation. The inflorescences have found use in folk medicine as a wound-healing, diuretic, sedative, antispasmodic, and carminative. Dill umbrellas are even used in cosmetology.

Let's consider the composition and medicinal properties of dill inflorescences, features of their use in different industries, and benefits for weight loss. Let's find out how to properly assemble and store umbrellas for the winter.

What are dill umbrellas

Dill is an annual herbaceous plant. Cultivated everywhere on all continents. It has a single branched stem, pinnately dissected leaves of a rich green color, inflorescences consisting of small bisexual flowers and collected in small umbrellas.

The fruits of dill are ovoid seeds with a ribbed surface, 2-5 mm long, 1.5-4 mm thick, dark gray or brown. The photo shows dill umbrellas in the flowering phase.

For reference. Other names for dill are til, kama, tsap, summit, koper, shivit.

Composition and beneficial properties

Dill inflorescences are a source of protein, beta-carotene, ascorbic and nicotinic acids, choline, vitamins B, D, E, H, K, PP.

Umbrellas contain useful substances for the human body:

• alimentary fiber;
• organic acids;
• ash;
• starch;
• mono- and disaccharides;
• omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids;
• saturated fatty acids;
• macroelements: silicon, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine, calcium, potassium;
• trace elements: boron, molybdenum, vanadium, selenium, iron, zinc, manganese, fluorine, iodine, chromium, copper, aluminum, cobalt, lithium, nickel, rubidium, strontium.

The usefulness of inflorescences lies in their varied chemical composition. With frequent use, umbrellas improve digestion, enhance the secretion of the digestive glands, activate intestinal motility, normalize metabolism in the body, and increase appetite.

Due to the presence of plant fiber in large quantities, umbrellas are used in dietary nutrition. Fiber cleanses the intestines well of waste and toxins, removes excess fluid, promotes rapid and long-term saturation, accelerates the process of fat breakdown, which results in weight loss.

Dill has a positive effect on the heart and blood vessels: restores blood circulation, reduces cholesterol levels, improves the elasticity of vascular walls, and ensures normal myocardial function. The inflorescences serve as an effective prevention of ischemia, atherosclerosis, and heart failure.

Due to its diuretic properties, dill greens are used for liver and kidney diseases: it increases the rate of urine formation and reduces the fluid content in tissues and serous cavities, and relieves edema.

Vitamin A is responsible for normal development, healthy skin and eyes, and reproductive function. Potassium and magnesium improve transmission from nerve cells to muscles of excitation, stabilize blood pressure, maintain water and electrolyte balance, and take part in protein and carbohydrate metabolism.

Beta-carotene slows down the aging process in the body, suppresses the growth of cancer cells, and has antioxidant properties. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system. It is necessary for the growth and formation of new cells, teeth, bone tissue, and prevents the penetration of infection into the body.

Application of dill umbrellas

Dill inflorescences are used in cosmetology, cooking, as a medicinal raw material in folk medicine. The fruits are used separately, the seeds are processed into oil, and an infusion or decoction is prepared based on dill umbrellas.

In dietary nutrition

Nutritionists for weight loss It is recommended to use dill oil, herbs, and a decoction of plant seeds. All parts of dill contain practically no fat, but are rich in proteins and carbohydrates that the body needs to be full.

Umbrella seeds contain a lot of plant fiber, which accelerates lipid metabolism, cleanses the intestines of waste and toxins, removes excess fluid, improves digestion, regulates metabolic processes, and ensures quick and long-lasting satiety.

In addition, frequent use dill seeds as an aromatic seasoning, it improves mood, which, in turn, eliminates the need for snacking and “eating” problems, and therefore prevents overeating.

In folk medicine

Dill umbrellas are used to treat and prevent a wide range of diseases. When used regularly and correctly, they have a beneficial multifaceted effect on the body:

1. Improves digestion. Essential oils in the inflorescences enhance the production of digestive juice, activate the secretion of bile, and stimulate intestinal motility.
2. Normalize weight. They remove waste and toxic substances from the intestines, restore slow metabolism, reduce cholesterol levels, and dull the feeling of hunger.
3. Relieves insomnia. They improve night sleep, calm the nervous system, and increase the synthesis of hormones that hypnotically manipulate consciousness.
4. Supports bone health. They participate in the mineralization of teeth, in the processes of nerve impulse transmission and blood clotting, increase bone density, and reduce calcium excretion by the kidneys.
5. Facilitate the course of diabetes. Regulate the production of insulin, reduce blood glucose levels, prevent complications and progression of the disease.
6. Relieves constipation. They normalize the consistency of stool, facilitate the process of defecation, and neutralize increased gas formation.
7. Form antimicrobial immunity, increase the body's resistance to the effects of unfavorable external and internal factors, serve as a good prevention of influenza, acute respiratory viral infections, and acute respiratory infections.
8. Helps with colic in infants. Relieves painful cramps in the stomach, improves intestinal function, and reduces the accumulation of gases.
9. Freshen your breath improve the condition of mucous membranes, help prevent or stop the growth of microbial infections in the mouth, and prevent damage to teeth and gums by free radicals.
10. Minimize the risk of developing cancer cells, protect the body from the harmful effects of free radicals.
11. Cleanses the blood, kidneys, liver.
12. Improves skin condition and activates hair growth.
13. Responsible for night vision maintain visual acuity.
14. Reduce pain inhibit the activity of inflammation in rheumatic diseases.
15. Reduce the tone of skeletal muscles, eliminate muscle rigidity, ease the course or prevent the occurrence of spasm.

An infusion of inflorescences is recommended for women during breastfeeding to improve lactation and for menstrual irregularities. A decoction of dill umbrellas has a vasodilating effect, therefore, it is useful for people suffering from hypertension, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, and coronary insufficiency.

It is used as an expectorant for diseases of the upper respiratory tract without expectoration.

In cosmetology

Extracts from herbs and dill seeds are also used in cosmetology. They are used to prepare perfumery and cosmetic compositions. The essential oil of the fruits of the inflorescences is added to toothpaste, cologne, and creams. We recommend applying dill umbrellas to the eyes to relieve redness and inflammation.

At home, use a tincture made from dill inflorescences. Umbrellas in the amount of 2-3 pcs. pour 500 ml of vodka and leave in a dark place for three days to infuse.

When used correctly and regularly, the product dries out acne, cleanses and tightens pores, destroys bacteria that cause inflammation, thereby preventing new breakouts.

In cooking

In the culinary industry, inflorescences are used in dry, fresh, salted form for cooking as a seasoning, as an ingredient in various spice mixtures. An aromatic seasoning is added to hot and cold dishes. The seeds are popular as a flavoring agent for confectionery products, marinades, pickles, tea, and sauerkraut.

Oil is produced from the seeds of flowering greens, which is used in the food industry as a spice.

For reference. Greens lose their taste and aroma during cooking, so they are added to dishes at the end of cooking.

For winter preparations

Dried or fresh dill umbrellas during the flowering period are used for preservation. The plant contains phytoncides, which, when pickling vegetables, not only impart a specific spicy taste, but also prevent the formation of mold and protect against spoilage.

How to assemble umbrellas correctly

As a medicinal raw material or food product, it is better to use dill umbrellas grown independently, without the use of pesticides. If you buy dill, pay attention to the condition of the stems and leaves. A good plant should have them fresh, bright green, airy, and without signs of wilting.

The seeds are collected when they begin to ripen - in July-September. The inflorescences are carefully cut off, a bunch of several branches is formed, placed in a paper bag with the inflorescences facing down and left in a warm, well-ventilated room for 7-10 days. Then the seeds are easily separated and stored in a dry, airtight glass container.

In a special dryer for vegetables and fruits, the process of drying umbrellas takes less than a day. You can dry the umbrellas in a ventilated, dark place by spreading the inflorescences on a clean material.

For reference. Dill is dried in the oven at minimum temperature. Drying time depends on the humidity of the umbrellas, on average it takes 15-30 minutes.

How and where to store them

Store fresh umbrellas in the refrigerator in an open plastic bag or wrapped in a damp paper towel. Inflorescences and leaves quickly wither and turn yellow, so they must be used within 5-7 days.

For long-term storage, the fruits of the inflorescences are dried, freeze, canned. Dried seeds are stored in a dry, airtight container, away from direct sunlight. Shelf life: 36 months.

When dry freezing, umbrellas are packaged in special freezing bags or dry, clean plastic containers. Store in the freezer until the next harvest.

Contraindications

Dill is a safe food product that is well accepted by the body and has virtually no contraindications. Dill umbrellas should not be used as a medicine or aromatic seasoning for people with individual intolerance to the components of the composition.

An allergic reaction is manifested by a rash, peeling of the skin, redness, itching, and Quincke's edema.

Dill is used with caution at low blood pressure, in late stages of pregnancy, so as not to provoke premature birth, before a planned operation.

Conclusion

The inflorescences, fruits, and greens of dill are used in the cosmetics and canning industries, and used in various spice mixtures. Infusions and decoctions based on dill umbrellas have found application in the treatment and prevention of diseases of the heart, blood vessels, respiratory system, nervous and digestive systems.

The obvious advantage of dill is its availability and low cost, long shelf life, which allows it to be used at any time of the year. However, to avoid possible adverse reactions, you must first consult with your doctor.