In many homes, cooking is incomplete without the sizzling aroma of asafoetida while tempering lentils and curries. Asafoetida, also known as hing, is a potent spice and flavour enhancer. Often used in Indian cookery, this spice possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties.
Asafoetida hing benefits your gut health by improving digestion. But what makes asafoetida so special is that it is used in almost all Indian kitchens and is commonly used as a remedy for various health problems. Let’s discuss popular asafetida benefits and how eating it can lead to a happier, healthier stomach.
Asafoetida: What is it?
One kind of resinous gum that is taken from the ferula plant is called asafoetida. Most of it is grown in Central Asia and the Middle East. Owing to its many health advantages and pleasant aroma, it is frequently used in Indian kitchens. The ancient medical system, Ayurveda, has long recognised and recorded its therapeutic properties and scripted numerous asafetida medicinal uses.
Now let’s read what modern science has to say about asafetida health benefits, in the next section.
How Asafoetida Hing Benefits Digestion?
Besides making your food more savoury, various asafoetida benefits for stomach are listed below:
1. Treats Indigestion
If you have chronic indigestion and are suffering from symptoms, such as stomach fullness and incomplete bowel movement, then asafoetida can be your remedy. This spice contains phytochemicals such as umbelliferone and ferulic acid. These phytochemicals promote the release of digestive enzymes, which speed up the breakdown of food in the stomach. This way, asafoetida hing benefits digestive health.
2. Reduces Gas and Bloating
Gas and bloating are usual symptoms of digestive problems that can make you uncomfortable. But if you have asafoetida, you can get rid of these symptoms naturally. Asafoetida is a natural carminative, which means that it can help release trapped gas from your abdomen. Hence, asafoetida hing benefits the muscles of gastrointestinal activity by relaxing the gut muscles.
3. Manages Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
People with irritable bowel syndrome or (IBS) often deal with irregular bowel movements and abdominal pain. Asafoetida is known to show promising results in easing IBS symptoms. The credit goes to its antispasmodic properties that help in muscle contraction, which eases bowel movements.
4. Enhances Digestive Fire (Agni)
According to the Ayurvedic texts, you need to maintain a strong digestive fire, or agni, in order to maintain your strong digestive power. Asafoetida can be helpful for that, as it is believed to kindle agni, promoting efficient digestion and nutrient absorption. Better digestion also ensures the prevention of the accumulation of toxins in the body that can result from constipation.
5. Anti-flatulent Properties
Excessive flatulence can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. But don’t worry if you have asafoetida in your kitchen! Consuming asafoetida hing benefits you by reducing bloating. It helps reduce the formation of gas in the stomach and the digestive tract while providing relief from flatulence and associated discomfort.
6. Enhances Liver Function
In the list of asafoetida hing benefits, lets acquaint you with more. Did you know that regular consumption of hing can support the formation of liver bile, a liquid that aids digestion. Since bile is a digestive fluid that is necessary for the breakdown of food molecules, asafoetida can enhance liver health and thus improve digestion. It facilitates effective liver function, which supports the body’s cleansing and digestion processes.
7. Reduces Gastric Ulcers
As per a study, asafoetida can help protect the lining of the stomach from the damage caused by gastric ulcers. This is possible due to the anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects of hing. Thus, this spice contributes to the healing and prevention of ulcers, assisting in improved gut health.
8. Improves Diabetes
Since hing helps manage your digestion and boost metabolism, it can be used to manage your weight. With weight management, you can also manage your cardiovascular health and diseases such as diabetes. So, there are hing benefits for male with diabetes or women trying to manage their weight and metabolic health.
If asafoetida is not a usual part of your cooking, we’re sure these health advantages of asafoetida will tempt you to include it soon. So, move on to the next section to learn how you can get the most of asafoetida hing benefits by adding it to your diet.
Ways to Incorporate Asafoetida in Your Diet
Here are the common asafetida uses in daily cooking:
1. Asafoetida can be used to improve the flavour of your food. Simply add half a teaspoon of hing powder while tempering (tadka) rice dishes, lentil soups, and vegetable curries.
2. You can use this to specifically aid digestion as well. Just make its paste by mixing a small amount of asafoetida with water and adding it to marinades, dressings, and sauces.
3. Get creative and make flavorful seasoning with asafoetida powder. Add it to table salt and sprinkle the mixture on salads, roasted vegetables, and savoury snacks.
Asafetida Side Effects
While there are many asafoetida hing benefits, it can still lead to adverse health effects when consumed improperly. Here are some common asafetida side effects:
- Asafoetida consumption can cause symptoms, such as swelling, rashes, or itching in certain people.
- When taken in excess, asafoetida may occasionally result in digestive problems like nausea, diarrhoea, or stomach pain.
- Asafoetida may cause variations in blood pressure, especially in those who have hypertension.
- Asafoetida’s potent smell can irritate the respiratory system, leading to symptoms, such as sneezing, coughing, or trouble breathing, particularly in those who are sensitive.
Due to the potential side effects of asafetida, you need to practice caution when including it in your diet for the first time to prevent overdosing.
To Sum Up
In summary, asafoetida is a powerful spice for digestive health in addition to being used to improve the flavour of Indian food. Being a great addition to your kitchen pantry because of many asafoetida hing benefits, it helps in treating indigestion, managing IBS symptoms, reducing gas and bloating, enhancing digestive fire, and supporting liver function.
Asafoetida can improve your general health and well-being and make your stomach happier and healthier when you cook with it every day. However, keep in mind common hing benefits and side effects in order to use it wisely.
