See the Amazing Health Benefits of Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek, just like Marca roots, is an age-long herb that is used as alternative medicine. It was used by people in ancient times to treat various illnesses, and today, it is a major part of most modern Indian foods. Fenugreek, asides from being a great addition to foods, can also serve as supplements as a result of its numerous health benefits.

Fenugreek

Trigonella foenum-graecum is the botanical name for Fenugreek. It is a plant that produces seeds and can grow as tall as 2 to 3 feet. Its leaves are green in color, and it has flowers that are whitish and small and golden-brown seed pods. Ever seen something of such? Then, that which you saw is Fenugreek.

Fenugreek has been an alternative medicine since time immemorial, especially to the Chinese people. The ancient Chinese used it to treat several skin conditions and several other health issues.

In modern times, asides from being used as a food ingredient, spice, and supplement, Fenugreek has also been used as a thickening agent and is also used in the manufacturing of skin and hair products like soaps and shampoos. This automatically means that Fenugreek also has within its health benefits list healthy human hair benefits.

The seeds from the fenugreek pods are used as a nutritious addition to most Indian dishes. The seeds give a nutty taste in the mouth and are sweet.

Nutritional Value

One spoon of fenugreek seeds contains different nutrients, and in total, it contains 35 calories. To further break it down, one spoon of fenugreek seed contains the following;

• Fiber; 3 grams
• Carbs: 6 grams
• Protein; 3 grams
• Manganese; 7% of the daily value
• Fat; 1 gram
• Magnesium; 5% of the daily value
• Iron; 20% of the daily value

Fenugreek’s nutritional profile is quite high and is packed with nutrients like protein, fat, manganese, and magnesium, among others.

Health Benefits of Fenugreek

Majorly, the common part of the plant that is mostly used for human consumption is the seed. No research has been able to attach any health benefits to the leaves, roots, and pods of the plant.

Breast Milk Production

The best source of whole nutrients for your baby and its development, no matter how old, is breast milk. As common as this is for every nursing mother, some mothers still find it difficult to produce sufficient breast milk for their babies.

Though prescribed drugs are used to boost or increase the production of breastmilk in women who face this challenge. However, Fenugreek, on the other hand, is a natural side-effect-free remedy to this condition.

Boost Testosterone Levels in Men

Among all the numerous health benefits of Fenugreek, one which it is used for the most is to boost testosterone levels, and, in some cases, it was found to give a boost to some men’s libido.

Research has discovered that half of the men who were involved in weekly weight lifting were given 500 mg of fenugreek supplement. After 6 weeks, the group of men that were not given fenugreek seeds supplements experienced a slightly low testosterone level, while the other group experienced a boost in their testosterone levels and also showed a slight reduction in general body fat, compared to the first group of no-supplement men.

This is proof that fenugreek supplements can boost and increase testosterone levels in men, which could also improve their sexual function.

Diabetes Control and Blood Sugar Regulation

Fenugreek is known to help with diabetic conditions. It helps reduce or relieve symptoms. In other words, fenugreek seeds help improve the symptoms and condition of people with both type 1 and 2 diabetes. Studies also have it that it increases carb tolerance in people who are not diabetic.

A survey was carried out on people who consumed 50 grams of fenugreek seed both at lunch and at dinner. After about 15 days, these people experienced a better regulation of their blood sugar levels and total reduction of bad cholesterol.

This could be possible as a result of Fenugreek’s strength in the regulation of insulin function, courtesy of its powder and its seeds.

Other Health Benefits of Fenugreek

Though Fenugreek is used to treat varieties of health conditions and can help in the relief of certain symptoms. However, most of these health benefits have not undergone rigorous studies to draw up such strong conclusions about their health benefits.

Research suggests that Fenugreek can do the following;

Control appetite: Several studies have found that consuming Fenugreek can help control your appetite, which in turn reduces the fat content in your body. People who consumed fenugreek supplements experienced a 17% drop in their fat intake level.

• Cholesterol regulation: Studies carried out on people proved that fenugreek supplements can help regulate and control bad cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the body.
• Heartburn: One of the common illness symptoms that fenugreek reliefs fast and effectively is heartburn, and its effect is beginning to match some antacid medications. People with frequent heartburn experienced a relief in their symptoms after consuming fenugreek supplements for some time.
• Inflammation: Fenugreek is packed with high anti-inflammatory content. It can help reduce cases of inflammation in delicate organs of the body.
• Research of anecdotal reports from local and traditional medicine state that Fenugreek is also effective in the treatment of skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, and other numerous health conditions.

How It Is Used

• There is no specific dosage for Fenugreek, but since it is an ingredient in most supplements, it is important to follow the dosage description of the supplement. Since the formulation of several supplements in which Fenugreek is an ingredient of different composition, recommended or required dose depends on the supplement. Asides from this, taking fenugreek seeds itself, without getting it from another supplement, does not have a recommended dosage.
• In addition, the dosage of fenugreek supplement varies depending on how it works for you or the degree of what it does for you.
• For testosterone boost, studies state that anything in the tune of 500 mg of fenugreek extract and above should do the testosterone boost job. However, taking over 2000 mg could be dangerous, though research has not confirmed this.
• While using it as a supplement, a daily intake of anything between 2 and 5 mg is enough and will be effective.
• Fenugreek supplements can be taken before or after a meal, and you can decide to also take them with your meal. Since Fenugreek is effective in the regulation of blood sugar, some study says it is best to take fenugreek supplements with your meals that are high in carbs.
• The most important thing about the fenugreek seed supplement is following the recommended dosage on the label of the supplement. However, taking it naturally as a seed, no recommended dosage is recognized. If you are still hesitant about the dosage, visit your Doctor to further discuss it.

Side Effects of Excess, Prolonged Usage

Fenugreek has proven to be a safe alternative medicine, especially for healthy people.

However, some mild side effects like indigestion and diarrhea have been discovered to come from the excessive and prolonged usage of fenugreek supplements.

• Low appetite has also been attached to Fenugreek, which could be dangerous for people who have eating disorders and are trying to gain weight.
• Though still unconfirmed, some people report cases of certain body odor after taking the supplement.
• When taking fenugreek supplements with other blood sugar-lowering drugs, it is important to take them with caution in order to reduce cases of dangerously low blood sugar levels.
• Ongoing research found that consuming large amounts of fenugreek supplements can cause damages such as DNA damage, reduced fertility, high risks of miscarriage, and neurological problems.
• Fenugreek may complicate some underlying already-existing health issues.

Since it is rare for people to have fenugreek seeds overdose, the chances of experiencing these side effects are low. However, when it is manufactured into a supplement, overdose becomes common. Hence the need to stick to the recommended daily dosage of such supplement.

It is important to notify your medical health care provider about whatever supplement you want to use and also discuss its dosage with them.

In conclusion, Fenugreek is an age-long plant-based alternative medicine that was used in ancient times and is still used until now, with equal effectiveness. Based on several studies, the health benefits of fenugreek seeds include breast milk production, testosterone boost, and blood sugar regulation. Other health benefits of Fenugreek like cholesterol regulation, lowering inflammation, and appetite control are still undergoing research processes.