Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDill Spice: What’s Edible?Nutrition Facts and CompoundsBenefits of Spicing Food With DillCultural Significance and UsesShould Anyone Avoid Dill?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Dill Spice: What’s Edible?
Nutrition Facts and Compounds
Benefits of Spicing Food With Dill
Cultural Significance and Uses
Should Anyone Avoid Dill?
Dill (anethum graveolens) isan herb in the same family as parsley. It is native to Mediterranean countries and southeastern Europe, although it’s cultivated and consumed worldwide, including in North America.
Dill has a sharp, tangy taste and is popularly used as a spice and formedicinal purposes. Dill is touted forhealth benefits, including reducinginflammation, insulin, andcholesterol levelsand helpingboost the immune system.
This article discusses dill’s nutritional value, beneficial compounds, health benefits, cultural uses, and who should avoid eating this herb.
Radila Radilova/ Getty Images
All parts of the dill plant are edible, including its seeds, leaves, and seed in theumbel(flower head).The plant’s leaves, commonly called “dill weed,” can be used fresh or dried as an ingredient or garnish in dishes. Dill is popular for pickling vegetables and as a flavor in many food products such as processed meat, cheese, and bread.
Dill leaves have a sweet taste with licorice notes, while dill seeds are bitter with a flavor similar to that ofaniseor caraway seeds.
Dill Nutrition Facts and Compounds
The nutritional value of dill weed and dill seed differ. One gram (5 sprigs) of dill weed has:
One tablespoon (6.6 grams) of dill seed contains:
Dill Compounds
Dill contains plant compounds with known health benefits. They include:
In addition to the flavor benefits of spicing food with dill, the nutrients in dill also offer various health benefits. The plant compounds in dill have been shown to help improve insulin resistance,cholesterol levels, antioxidant levels, and some gastrointestinal symptoms.
Dill contains vitamin C, anantioxidantthat fights damagingfree radicalsthat can prevent theimmune systemfrom working well. It also helps boost white blood cells that fight infections.Dill is also a good source of vitamin A, which is important for vision, the immune system, reproductive health, and growth and development.
Magnesiumis a mineral found in dill that helps the body regulate muscle and nerve function, blood sugar, blood pressure, and more.Dill also contains iron, which the body needs to makehemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
A Word From Verywell
—MELISSA NIEVES, LND, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Dill is a traditional ingredient in foods in various European and Asian countries. Dill is a staple in Russia, Poland, and Ukraine, where it is popularly used in borsch beet soup and Siberian dumplings. In Scandinavia, dill is popularly used to make bread, Danish meatballs with dill sauce, and pickled salmon, the national dish of Sweden and Norway.Dill is a signature spice in many Greek dishes, including tzatziki and spanakopita.In India, dill has been used since ancient times both as a food seasoning and inAyurvedicmedicine. One of the most popular uses is as an ingredient ingripe water, a remedy often given to relieve colic in infants. Dill is also used in Ayurvedic medicine to:
Dill is widely considered safe, although rareallergic reactionscan occur. Some reports indicate that routinely using gripe water in infants can delay breastfeeding and increase the risk of infection, allergies, and GI upset.
Summary
Dill is an herb used worldwide and valued for its flavor and medicinal properties. Dill is a staple in various traditional dishes, particularly in Russia and Europe.
The herb contains beneficial nutrients, including vitamins A and C, magnesium, and plant compounds such as d-Limonene and flavonoids. It is also used in Ayurvedic medicine to aid digestion and as an ingredient in gripe water. Most people can safely eat dill, although pregnant or breastfeeding women are recommended to avoid consuming it.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Herb Society of America.Dill.North Dakota State University.Field to fork: dill.Singletary KW.Dill: potential health benefits.Nutr Today. 2023;58(3):128-136. doi:10.1097/NT.0000000000000604Spices, Inc.Dill weed vs. dill seed.U.S. Department of Agriculture.Dill weed, fresh.U.S. Department of Agriculture.Spices, dill seed.Jana S, Shekhawat GS.Anethum graveolens: an Indian traditional medicinal herb and spice.Pharmacogn Rev.2010;4(8):179-184. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.70915Nam HH, Nan L, Choo BK.Anti-inflammation and protective effects of anethum graveolensL. (dill seeds) on esophageal mucosa damages in reflux esophagitis-induced rats.Foods.2021;10(10):2500. doi:10.3390/foods10102500Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.D-limonene.Smeriglio A, Barreca D, Bellocco E, Trombetta D.Proanthocyanidins and hydrolysable tannins: occurrence, dietary intake and pharmacological effects.Br J Pharmacol.2017;174(11):1244-1262. doi:10.1111/bph.13630Pina LTS, Serafini MR, Oliveira MA, Sampaio LA, Guimarães JO, Guimarães AG.Carvone and its pharmacological activities: A systematic review.Phytochemistry. 2022;196:113080. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.113080Haidari F, Zakerkish M, Borazjani F, et al.The effects of Anethum graveolens (dill) powder supplementation on clinical and metabolic status in patients with type 2 diabetes.Trials.2020;21(1):483. doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04401-3Carr AC, Maggini S.Vitamin C and immune function.Nutrients.2017 Nov 3;9(11):1211. doi:10.3390/nu9111211National Institutes of Health.Vitamin A and carotenoids.National Institutes of Health.Magnesium.National Institutes of Health.Iron.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Herb Society of America.Dill.North Dakota State University.Field to fork: dill.Singletary KW.Dill: potential health benefits.Nutr Today. 2023;58(3):128-136. doi:10.1097/NT.0000000000000604Spices, Inc.Dill weed vs. dill seed.U.S. Department of Agriculture.Dill weed, fresh.U.S. Department of Agriculture.Spices, dill seed.Jana S, Shekhawat GS.Anethum graveolens: an Indian traditional medicinal herb and spice.Pharmacogn Rev.2010;4(8):179-184. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.70915Nam HH, Nan L, Choo BK.Anti-inflammation and protective effects of anethum graveolensL. (dill seeds) on esophageal mucosa damages in reflux esophagitis-induced rats.Foods.2021;10(10):2500. doi:10.3390/foods10102500Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.D-limonene.Smeriglio A, Barreca D, Bellocco E, Trombetta D.Proanthocyanidins and hydrolysable tannins: occurrence, dietary intake and pharmacological effects.Br J Pharmacol.2017;174(11):1244-1262. doi:10.1111/bph.13630Pina LTS, Serafini MR, Oliveira MA, Sampaio LA, Guimarães JO, Guimarães AG.Carvone and its pharmacological activities: A systematic review.Phytochemistry. 2022;196:113080. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.113080Haidari F, Zakerkish M, Borazjani F, et al.The effects of Anethum graveolens (dill) powder supplementation on clinical and metabolic status in patients with type 2 diabetes.Trials.2020;21(1):483. doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04401-3Carr AC, Maggini S.Vitamin C and immune function.Nutrients.2017 Nov 3;9(11):1211. doi:10.3390/nu9111211National Institutes of Health.Vitamin A and carotenoids.National Institutes of Health.Magnesium.National Institutes of Health.Iron.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Herb Society of America.Dill.North Dakota State University.Field to fork: dill.Singletary KW.Dill: potential health benefits.Nutr Today. 2023;58(3):128-136. doi:10.1097/NT.0000000000000604Spices, Inc.Dill weed vs. dill seed.U.S. Department of Agriculture.Dill weed, fresh.U.S. Department of Agriculture.Spices, dill seed.Jana S, Shekhawat GS.Anethum graveolens: an Indian traditional medicinal herb and spice.Pharmacogn Rev.2010;4(8):179-184. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.70915Nam HH, Nan L, Choo BK.Anti-inflammation and protective effects of anethum graveolensL. (dill seeds) on esophageal mucosa damages in reflux esophagitis-induced rats.Foods.2021;10(10):2500. doi:10.3390/foods10102500Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.D-limonene.Smeriglio A, Barreca D, Bellocco E, Trombetta D.Proanthocyanidins and hydrolysable tannins: occurrence, dietary intake and pharmacological effects.Br J Pharmacol.2017;174(11):1244-1262. doi:10.1111/bph.13630Pina LTS, Serafini MR, Oliveira MA, Sampaio LA, Guimarães JO, Guimarães AG.Carvone and its pharmacological activities: A systematic review.Phytochemistry. 2022;196:113080. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.113080Haidari F, Zakerkish M, Borazjani F, et al.The effects of Anethum graveolens (dill) powder supplementation on clinical and metabolic status in patients with type 2 diabetes.Trials.2020;21(1):483. doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04401-3Carr AC, Maggini S.Vitamin C and immune function.Nutrients.2017 Nov 3;9(11):1211. doi:10.3390/nu9111211National Institutes of Health.Vitamin A and carotenoids.National Institutes of Health.Magnesium.National Institutes of Health.Iron.
Herb Society of America.Dill.
North Dakota State University.Field to fork: dill.
Singletary KW.Dill: potential health benefits.Nutr Today. 2023;58(3):128-136. doi:10.1097/NT.0000000000000604
Spices, Inc.Dill weed vs. dill seed.
U.S. Department of Agriculture.Dill weed, fresh.
U.S. Department of Agriculture.Spices, dill seed.
Jana S, Shekhawat GS.Anethum graveolens: an Indian traditional medicinal herb and spice.Pharmacogn Rev.2010;4(8):179-184. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.70915
Nam HH, Nan L, Choo BK.Anti-inflammation and protective effects of anethum graveolensL. (dill seeds) on esophageal mucosa damages in reflux esophagitis-induced rats.Foods.2021;10(10):2500. doi:10.3390/foods10102500
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.D-limonene.
Smeriglio A, Barreca D, Bellocco E, Trombetta D.Proanthocyanidins and hydrolysable tannins: occurrence, dietary intake and pharmacological effects.Br J Pharmacol.2017;174(11):1244-1262. doi:10.1111/bph.13630
Pina LTS, Serafini MR, Oliveira MA, Sampaio LA, Guimarães JO, Guimarães AG.Carvone and its pharmacological activities: A systematic review.Phytochemistry. 2022;196:113080. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.113080
Haidari F, Zakerkish M, Borazjani F, et al.The effects of Anethum graveolens (dill) powder supplementation on clinical and metabolic status in patients with type 2 diabetes.Trials.2020;21(1):483. doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04401-3
Carr AC, Maggini S.Vitamin C and immune function.Nutrients.2017 Nov 3;9(11):1211. doi:10.3390/nu9111211
National Institutes of Health.Vitamin A and carotenoids.
National Institutes of Health.Magnesium.
National Institutes of Health.Iron.
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