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What is Fenugreek?
Fenugreek, also called Fenigreek and Greek Hay, is an annual plant originated in Middle and Near East. Nowadays, the plant is grown in many places in the world but has the widest cultivation and consumption in India. Although the seed and leave of the plant are often used in culinary, fenugreek is much popular for its health effect.
Fenugreek is believed to possess an array of nutrients such as fiber, protein, potassium, manganese, copper, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and so on. Besides, it also has other active constituents, including lysine, alkaloids, and steroidal saponins. All of these substances greatly contribute to various health benefits that fenugreek bring to human.
This article will shed light on 10 great health benefits you can get from fenugreek.
1. Lactating women
Fenugreek has long used as a useful traditional remedy for breast-feeding mother since it helps to aid milk production and enhance the milk’s quality. This has been shown in several studies, as there is a significant increase in milk production of lactating women. This benefit comes from the presence of diosgenin, as well as magnesium and vitamin in fenugreek. As the quality and quantity of milk is improved, you can keep you baby healthy.
Besides, fenugreek also has the ability to enlarge breast and balance hormone in women.
Therefore, a serving of fenugreek daily is suggested for not only lactating women but also who want to improve breast size.
2. Weight loss
By using fenugreek, you can easily suppress your appetite and no long feel hungry or craving for food. This is attributed to the soluble fiber galactomannan in the seed, which becomes distended in the stomach and makes you feel full.
Consume fenugreek instead of other high-calories food so that you can quickly get rid of unwanted excess weight.
3. Fever
Think of fenugreek whenever you get illness especially fever. This seed along with honey and lemon make a wonderful treatment to help with the ailment. Simply consume 1-2 teaspoons of this seed with a cup of herbal tea added with honey and lemon so that you can quickly ease the symptoms. Do this a few times a day to see the improvement soon.
4. Skin health
Another benefit of fenugreek contributes to your skin health and beauty. It is able to cure skin inflammation, including boils, eczema, burns and so on. Simply use the firm paste made of fenugreek seed powder and warm water to apply onto the affected areas. Do this a few times a day then you can quickly get rid of the condition.
Fenugreek is also used to improve acne scar. For the remedy, read more Home Remedies for Acne Scar.
5. Menstrual discomfort
To many girls and women, menstruation can be the worst time of the month since it might cause pain and discomfort. In this case, fenugreek is a wise choice to solve the problem. This seed, after being absorbed, immediately acts to ease all the symptoms of menstruation, making you feel more comfortable.
Additionally, due to this benefit, fenugreek contributes to the remedies to treat vaginal problems. Read about Home Remedies for Bacterial Vaginosis.
6. Menopause
Not only menstruation, fenugreek also works on menopause. This is a condition caused by the loss of estrogen, which usually occurs between 45-55 when the menstruation stops forever. Menopausal women have to face with many annoying symptoms such as depression, cramps, etc. Fortunately, fenugreek is a rich source of diosgenin and estrogenic isoflavones, which have the similarity with estrogen. Consuming fenugreek means you are making up for the lost estrogen. Therefore, the menopause will be much easier to deal with.
7. Cholesterol
As we all know there are 2 main types of cholesterol: high density Lipoprotein (HDL) and low density Lipoprotein (LDL). While, HDL is called as good cholesterol, LDL is seen to have opposite character – bad cholesterol. The high level of this substance can cause various diseases related to heart, including heart attacks and strokes. Thanks to fenugreek, the amount of bad cholesterol in blood will considerably decrease, which is attributed to the presence of fiber in the seed. This substance works to break the excess cholesterol apart and remove it from arteries and blood vessels.
8. Diabetes
To those who are suffering from type 2 diabetes, fenugreek is a great natural treatment, which can inhibit the development of the disease. It is the rich content of fiber galactomannan in fenugreek that limit the rate of sugar absorbing into bloodstream, leading to a dramatic drop of urinary sugar level.
Add 15-20 grams of fenugreek into you daily diet to help your overall health, especially blood sugar.
Read about Home Remedies for Diabetes.
9. Colon cancer
Fenugreek is particularly used to keep you safe from colon cancer thanks to the steroid diosgenin. Besides, the polysaccharides in the seed help to balance cholesterol levels and discourage bile salts to reabsorb, which protects mucus membrane of the colon and reduce the rick of developing colon cancer or other related diseases.
For other natural treatments for this condition, read How to Prevent Colon Cancer.
10. Sinus infection
Last but no least, the benefit of treating sinus infection also makes fenugreek so popular today. The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of the seed successfully help you with the symptoms of the condition. To make use of this ingredient to treat sinus infection, drink the tea made from the seed 2-3 times a day.
If your house is out of fenugreek and you can find it anywhere, resort to other natural ingredients that have the same effect as fenugreek to treat sinus problems. Find out more at Home Remedies for Sinus Infection.
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