Fenugreek is known by its scientific name, Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn, and its Indian name, Methi. It is a type of plant that grows in parts of Asia and Europe. People also eat different parts of the plant, such as the seeds and leaves. Also, fenugreek seeds can be used in three ways: as a powder, as raw seeds, or as a seed extract. The seeds are very healthy to eat.
They also have minerals and bioactive compounds, which make them a powerhouse of health benefits. They help fight cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol, and inflammation, among other things.
In India and other Asian countries, people eat fenugreek seeds every day. It has been used as an alternative medicine for centuries to treat pain and other illnesses. They look like cubes and are a dark yellow-brown color.
The Health Benefits Of Fenugreek Seeds:
Nutritional value:
Fenugreek seeds are a great food supplement because they are low in calories and full of minerals, vitamins, and carbs. 100 grams of fenugreek seeds have 44.1 grams of carbs, 26.2 grams of protein, 5.8 grams of fat, 48.6 grams of fiber, and 333 calories.
Minerals: Calcium: 160 mg Copper: 0.71 mg Iron: 6.5 mg Magnesium: 190 mg Phosphorous: 370 mg Sodium: 19 mg Potassium: 530 mg
There are also several bioactive compounds, like phytochemicals, in fenugreek seeds. They are phenolic acids, galactomannans, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and hydrocarbons.
Benefits of Fenugreek Seeds
1. Anticarcinogenic Effects
Fenugreek seeds may help stop cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. These include cancers of the breast, skin, GI tract, lungs, prostate, and people with leukaemia.
A study says that diosgenin can be found in fenugreek seeds. It helps the body make the hormones cortisone and progesterone. These hormones fight cancer by stopping cell growth and making it easier for cancerous cells to die.
More research shows that fenugreek seeds can kill cancer cells in the colon. It helps to fight leukaemia. In other words, it stops cancer cells from growing in both cases.
Also, research shows that fenugreek slows and stops the growth of cancer. Also, fenugreek seeds have a lot of antioxidants in them. Antioxidants get rid of the body’s free radicals. Free radicals are very reactive molecules that can cause damage to DNA, mutations, and, in the worst case, cancer. By getting rid of free radicals in the body, fenugreek seeds stop cancers caused by mutations from starting.
2. Effects on diabetes
People with diabetes can lower their blood sugar by eating fenugreek seeds. So, it helps keep complications from type 1 and type 2 diabetes under control. Research also shows that it can be used as a medicine to treat diabetes. Also, fenugreek has a low glycemic index, which makes it a healthy and safe food for people with diabetes.
By making the body make more insulin, 4-hydroxy isoleucine helps lower the amount of glucose in the blood. Also, it is a soluble fibre that slows down how quickly the body breaks down carbohydrates, which helps keep glucose levels stable. Also, the bioactive compound galactomannan, which is found in fenugreek seeds, can help treat diabetes. Also, fenugreek seed extracts help the body use glucose by making GLUT-2, a molecule that moves glucose around the body.
3. Effects on inflammation
The mucilage in fenugreek seeds can help reduce inflammation. It takes away pain and swelling and helps wounds heal. A study found that 4-hydroxy isoleucine is a very important part of fenugreek’s ability to reduce inflammation.
It is a bioactive compound that turns off several enzymes that cause inflammation. Alkaloids, apigenin, and saponins are also bioactive compounds in fenugreek that help it fight inflammation. But it’s not clear what their exact purpose is. The fact that fenugreek seeds reduce inflammation makes the immune system stronger.
4. Effects on analgesia, or pain relief
People have used fenugreek seeds to ease pain and cramps for a long time. In the past, fenugreek seed extracts were used to ease the pain of childbirth and menstruation. Women still drink fenugreek seed water or fenugreek seed tea to ease menstrual cramps, nausea, and tiredness.
Researchers think that this is because the seeds have a lot of minerals and nutrients. They also help the body make hemoglobin and give women energy, which keeps their overall health in check during menstruation. Women will also be less likely to get anemia, which is another benefit.
5. Fenugreek seeds have properties that kill germs
Several studies talk about how fenugreek seeds can kill germs and fight off fungi. This is because phenolic compounds and scopoletin make it antimicrobial. Several types of bacteria that live in the gut die when these compounds mess with their metabolism. In the same way, flavonoids in fenugreek extracts have antifungal effects. So, eating fenugreek seeds can help wounds heal faster and help with stomach problems.
6. Lowering of cholesterol
Fenugreek seeds help lower serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels in the blood, among other things. They cause a condition called low cholesterol. It helps to cut down on obesity and lose weight more quickly. Research shows that this is because of the bioactive compound saponin in fenugreek seeds.
Saponin and bile acids come together in the intestines to make large micelles. Micelles can’t be taken in by the body because they are too big. So, the amount of unhealthy lipids in our bloodstreams goes down. Long-term, this helps keep the heart healthy and the body’s metabolism in check.
7. Fighting obesity
The high amount of dietary fiber in fenugreek seeds is another way they help you lose weight. There is a lot of mucilaginous fiber in fenugreek seeds. There are galactomannans in this fiber. The body’s high fiber content helps keep glucose from being absorbed, makes you feel full, and controls bowel movements. Also, 4-hydroxy isoleucine helps lower the amount of glucose in the blood by making the body release more insulin. In the end, these mechanisms lead to a healthier metabolism, which makes it easier to lose weight.
8. Growing Hair
People use fenugreek seeds as a natural way to stop hair loss or make hair grow faster. They can also be used to stop and treat dandruff. Also, they improve the health of hair follicles. You can eat fenugreek seeds or put their extracts on your scalp to get the most benefits.