9. Fennel Seed

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Famous for the unique flavor it brings to pepperoni and Italian sausage, fennel seed comes from a unique plant that is considered a vegetable, herb and a spice all at once! The plant’s bulb is considered a vegetable and features a licorice flavor that’s not quite as strong as anise. The leaves and stocks of the fennel plant make up the herb portion, but neither the bulb or the foliage are as popular as the seeds. Fennel seed has been revealed as a pain killer that is especially good at relieving menstrual cramps and it may also help treat Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, colic, colitis, dementia, heart disease, high blood pressure, hirsutism (unwanted hair growth in women) and stroke.