The Properties Of Fenugreek

Looking for a nutritious way to add flavor to your dishes? Consider using fenugreek seeds! These tiny little seeds have a host of health benefits that can improve your overall well-being on a day-to-day basis. You want to know more about the properties of fenugreek ? Read on for all the details. Benefits, virtues and tips included!

Summary of the benefits of the plant:

• Improves digestion, protects the stomach
• Appetizer plant, stimulates the appetite and promotes healthy weight gain
• Helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol
• Hormone regulator, helps with milk production and recovery after childbirth

What is fenugreek ?

Quick history of he plant

Fenugreek, or Trigonella foenum graecum in Latin, is an ancient plant originating from the Mediterranean region, more precisely from North Africa. Its use then spread throughout the Middle East, reaching China, India and Indonesia. It is now an integral part of their culinary culture and Ayurvedic medicine. Although its leaves are sometimes used like spinach, its seed is still the most popular and consumed element.

People use fenugreek seed in cooking as a spice as well as the composition of many mixtures. Garam masala and ras-el-hanout are one of the mixtures to make typical dishes from these regions (tagine, couscous, curry, etc.). In order to be consumable, you can roast the fenugreek seed and soften it in a liquid.

In traditional medicine, fenugreek seed has many benefits. It improves digestion, appetite and increases the production of urine. This seed is famous back in the day for its use for many ailments such as indigestion, liver problems, colic, diarrhea, fever, bronchitis, colds, coughs, eczema, gout and sores .

Smell, flavor and appearance

The fenugreek seed is recognizable by its yellow color and its angular shape: the word Trigonella means “triangular” in Greek. Measuring 3 to 5 mm long and 2 to 3 mm wide, this seed has two lobes of often unequal size. In terms of smell, this seed is characteristic and very aromatic. This has led to its classification as a type of olfactory spectrum in mycology. The taste of fenugreek seed is slightly bitter and reminiscent of celery or walnut.

The properties of fenugreek

– Improves digestion, protects the stomach

Fenugreek is can aid in digestion and may help relieve stomach upset. The seeds contain fibers and in particular mucilages. These can contribute to make the stools more voluminous and to promote the regularity of the intestinal transit. But its most well-known benefit is that of protecting the stomach.

Indeed, fenugreek would be able to regulate the pH of the stomach. It would thus relieve gastric wounds and act as an anti-ulcer. For all those who wish to regain digestive comfort and protect their stomach, fenugreek seed is for you!

– Weight and appetite control

Thanks to its slightly bitter flavor, people view fenugreek, in the same way as Organic Ginger Powder, as an aperitif plant. This means that it will open the appetite in people who lack it. This will therefore contribute to the increase in calorie consumption.

As part of a balanced diet, fenugreek seed can be an excellent solution for people who want to gain weight in a healthy way. Its richness in protein makes it an ideal superfood to fight against malnutrition. It also helps athletes develop their muscle mass.

– Contributes to the regulation of glycemic and cholesterol

Thanks to its richness in fiber, unsaturated fatty acids and saponins, more particularly in furostanol, fenugreek seed helps maintain normal blood sugar and cholesterol levels. The World Health Organization (WHO), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and ESCOP have also selected numerous scientific evidence highlighting the benefits of this plant. Some studies have shown that fenugreek can help regulate blood sugar levels, in particular by participating in the production of insulin, the hypoglycemic hormone. Fenugreek would also be able, according to a study cited by the WHO, to increase the number of pancreatic ß-cells and the diameter of the pancreatic islets involved in the synthesis of insulin.

It has been shown that this plant can reduce cholesterol levels and particularly bad cholesterol (LDL). It is important to note that more research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of fenugreek for these purposes. If you are considering taking fenugreek to control your blood sugar or cholesterol, be sure to discuss this with your GP first.

– Hormonal regulator

Among the most well-known benefits of fenugreek seed, we find that of hormonal regulation. As this plant naturally contains phytoestrogens, it has been recognized to be a support for people who wish to regulate their cycle or better live their menopause. The hormones present in this plant are also known to increase the size of the breasts and buttocks. However, to date, no serious study on this subject has been published to prove the veracity of this benefit.

Although this plant can improve the quality of life in the event of menopause, premenstrual syndrome or even disruption of the menstrual cycle, fenugreek seeds will especially be beneficial for breastfeeding women. Indeed, this plant is said to be galactogenic, that is to say that it will stimulate the production of breast milk after childbirth. As a hormonal regulator, fenugreek seed also acts as postpartum care by improving recovery and promoting balance in the menstrual cycle after the return of the diaper.

Most Common forms and uses of fenugreek

• Wole fenugreek seeds
• Fenugreek oil
• Capsules

Precautions for use

Although fenugreek seed is strongly recommended for breastfeeding women, it is not recommended for pregnant women because of its stimulating action on the uterus, causing contractions and a risk of miscarriage.

Consumption of fenugreek is also contraindicated when taken simultaneously with anticoagulants, as it would potentiate their action.

It is recommended that people on anti-diabetic or insulin treatment have their fenugreek cure supervised by their doctor because of the regulatory properties on blood sugar.

Fenugreek and allergies

According to the WHO, allergic reactions to fenugreek following its ingestion or inhalation have been reported, ranging from runny nose and wheezing to fainting and facial angioedema. It is therefore important, whether you use them internally or externally, to ensure that you have no sensitivity to this product or to its family, the Fabaceae (legumes): liquorice, sweet clover, broad bean, bean, pea, lentil , peanut, alfalfa, tamarind…

For more health content, click here.

I hope you enjoyed the properties fenugreek and found them useful. Comment down below what you think, have you ever tried it, or share with us what you know about it.

Looking forward to reading your comments, sending you love and positive energy!!!