Star anise (a.k.a. Chinese anise) is often used as a spice, but it’s actually a fruit. The first step to living a Paleo lifestyle is to eat lots of plants, and that includes both fruit and spices.
The Health Benefits
Consumption of spices has been shown to improve blood pressure, glucose tolerance, and immune function. Add to that the fact that it just makes our food delicious and there are plenty of reasons to include anise on the Paleo menu.
Paleo and Autoimmune Protocol
Despite the many health benefits that come with eating various fruits and spices, not everyone experiences those benefits. For some people, they can cause inflammation and digestive issues, and star anise is one that can cause these problems (source).
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If you don’t notice any ill effects when consuming star anise, then you’re probably fine. On the other hand, if you notice that consuming it makes you feel less than your best, you may want to avoid it for a while to see if that makes a difference.
