Health benefits of fenugreek

Fenugreek is an herb that is commonly growing in the Mediterranean region. While the seeds and leaves are primarily used as a culinary spice, it is also used to treat a variety of health problems. The Scientific name for fenugreek is trigonella foenum-graecum. Fenugreek seeds are a rich source of minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients. The seeds are a very good source of soluble dietary fiber. Soaking the seeds in water makes their outer coat soft and mucilaginous 100 g of seeds provide over 65% of dietary fiber. Fenugreek seeds contains proteins, vitamin C, niacin, potassium, and diosgenin,a compound that has properties similar to estrogen. Other active ingredients in fenugreek are alkaloids, lysine and L-tryptophan, as well as steroidal saponins. Fenugreek when taken with a teaspoon of lemon and honey can work wonders to reduce fever by nourishing the body. The soothing effect of mucilage in fenugreek also helps to relieve cough and pain from sore throat.

 The seeds have been used in many traditional medicines as a laxative, digestive, and as a remedy for cough and bronchitis. If used regularly, fenugreeks helps control cholesterol, triglyceride as well as glycemic levels in diabetics. The presence of galactomannan in fenugreek seeds helps lowers the risk of heart attack. It is also an excellent source of potassium which counters the action of sodium to help control heart rate regulate blood pressure. Fenugreek is known to increase milk production in lactating women. Researches show that milk production can be increased by over 500 percent within 24 to 72 hours after consuming this herb. Therefore fenugreek is a recommended remedy to increase milk flow. However,use of fenugreek during pregnancy is not recommended, since it has the potential to induce labor. You should  only have it after consultation with your doctor.

Fenugreek is an effective remedy against heatburn.Its seeds contain lot of mucilage, which helps sooth gastrointestinal inflammation by coating the lining of the stomach and intestine.simply sprinkle 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds onto your food. Another option is to take one teaspoon of seeds and swallow them with water or juice before any meal. While Fenugreek is generally considered to be safe when used moderately, there have been reports of a few minor side-effects. Nausea is one common side effect, while other people have reported gastrointestinal discomfort.it is important to watch out for skin irritations and rashes.