Fenugreek is a plant that is native to the Middle East, Egypt and India. It has been used for thousands of years as a food and medicinal agent. Today fenugreek seeds are eaten or fenugreek supplements are taken to reap its impressive health benefits. Continue reading to learn how fenugreek can support your health and its supplement varieties.
Main Medicinal Compounds in Fenugreek
The three constituents of fenugreek are trigonelline, nicotinic acid and coumarin. These properties make fenugreek an excellent choice for the treatment of diabetes and insulin resistance.
Key Health Benefits of Fenugreek Supplements
Its main health benefit is its blood sugar-regulating capabilities. Fenugreek seeds are also high in fibre, which helps to regulate blood sugar by slowing down the absorption of sugar in the intestines.
Fenugreek is also used to increase the milk supply of nursing mothers. It is believed to do this by acting on the brain to stimulate the release of prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production.
Other reported uses for fenugreek are to lower cholesterol, thin mucus secretions and lubricate the intestines to relieve constipation.
Selecting Quality Fenugreek Supplements: Format, Potency & More
Most fenugreek supplements are made as encapsulated ground seeds, a tincture of the seeds or loose seeds. Fenugreek seeds are usually crushed or ground to release the essential oils (medicinal ingredients). Fenugreek may be found in formulas for regulating blood sugar or increasing milk supply.
Key Cautions & Considerations
Due to fenugreek’s blood sugar-regulating ability diabetics and individuals with hypoglycemia should use caution when taking fenugreek. Oral hypoglycemics and insulin levels may need to be adjusted when an individual uses fenugreek.
