If you suffer from diabetes, you know how challenging it can be to live with the illness. Having to monitor your sugars constantly and possibly even self-administer insulin can be difficult at times. The good news is that our fenugreek supplements, which have been used to treat diabetes for centuries by practitioners of traditional medicine and that have been proven to work by modern medical research studies, are available today!
Can Fenugreek Cure Diabetes?
All right, so let’s settle this once and for all: diabetes is a health condition that can’t be “cured”. At the same time, however, diabetes can absolutely go into remission, and that means that while you still have the illness you won’t have any symptoms (in this case, heightened blood sugar).
Now, to answer the question more clearly: because fenugreek is so effective at reducing insulin resistance in diabetics, it can absolutely play a role in having your diabetes go into remission. It’s not quite a cure, but our fenugreek diabetes supplements are the closest you can possibly get with this particular ailment, and we’re wagering that it’s close enough!
What Is Fenugreek Good For?
In addition to its incredible ability to treat diabetes, fenugreek is a versatile herb that has been used both for flavouring meals and in traditional medicines for generations. As a plant, it grows freely across Asia and Europe, though it’s cultivated in India in vast amounts due to the fact that it’s used so widely in Indian cuisine. You can find the fresh, leafy greens or even sprouted fenugreek seeds in salads, but it’s more common to find the dried leaves and seeds used to spice up curries and other meals.
The flavour of fenugreek is unique in that it’s both sweet and nutty, with notes of maple and celery, making it a perfect match for savoury meals. In fact, the maple scent of fenugreek is so strong that it’s often used as a flavour additive in imitation maple syrup — there was even an incident in October of 2005 where residents of New York City were bombarded with a mysterious maple syrup smell wafting over from a nearby fenugreek processing plant in the neighbouring state of New Jersey!
If you plan on using fenugreek to spice up your own meals, a word of caution: a little bit goes a very long way. Flavouring your meals with this herb can turn them bitter if you use too much, so spice your food in moderation!
What Are the Health Benefits of Fenugreek?
Fenugreek’s uses go far beyond its existence as a spice, and it does so much more than protect you from the effects of diabetes. As a rich source of protein, dietary fibre, and several essential vitamins and minerals (especially iron), the nutritional profile of fenugreek alone is enough to make it noteworthy. But that’s not the only way that fenugreek stands out. In fact, the benefits of this herb reach much deeper than simply its nutritional content and its flavour profile. This is not news to Ayurvedics and practitioners of other types of traditional medicine. There are, in fact, a number of uses of fenugreek. These fenugreek health benefits include:
Gastrointestinal Issues
Fenugreek is known to be an excellent remedy for digestive issues, with many relying on it to treat stomach upset, constipation, appetite loss, inflammation, and even constipation.
Women’s Reproductive Problems
When it comes to women’s reproductive problems, such as painful menstruation, polycystic ovarian disease, or the symptoms of menopause, fenugreek supplement treatment has been used to get relief for these issues in the past. Breastfeeding mothers also occasionally use fenugreek because it increases their milk flow as well, something that modern medical science has been researching as well.
Men’s Reproductive Problems
Whether it’s for erectile dysfunction, infertility, hernia, or even just lack of sexual interest, men use fenugreek supplements to treat reproductive problems. Many women also use fenugreek to increase sexual desire as well.
Anti-Cancer Properties
This one’s a biggie. There’s plenty of evidence that fenugreek has anti-cancer properties, with scientists backing this up in recent research after investigating how some of the chemical components of the spice inhibits certain types of tumour growth.
Cardiovascular Health
Fenugreek has been used to support better cardiovascular health. Practitioners of traditional medicine treat atherosclerosis, and also high cholesterol and triglycerides, with this spice. In fact, fenugreek’s cardioprotective effects have been heavily researched by Western medical professionals, many of which have come to the same conclusion that practitioners of traditional medicine have known for generations.
Treating the Endocrine System
Fenugreek has a number of uses when it comes to the endocrine system. In addition to its ability to help control blood sugar, it’s used to treat kidney disease and to improve poor thyroid function.
Remedying Vitamin Deficiency
Fenugreek has been used to treat beriberi, a vitamin deficiency disease characterized by an extreme lack of vitamin B1. Modern medical science bears this out, considering that fenugreek is an excellent source of B vitamins including vitamin B1.
Miscellaneous Medical Uses
There’s even more traditional medicine uses for fenugreek. These include obesity, Parkinson’s disease, cellulitis, baldness, chronic cough and tuberculosis, and even chapped lips! Additionally, research into fenugreek’s ability to support overall exercise performance, something that traditional medicine practitioners have known for literally centuries, has also shown positive results.
How Much Fenugreek Should I Have Each Day?
As a supplement, fenugreek dosing can depend on what you’re taking it for. If you’re using it to support diabetes, doses can range from 1 gram to 100 grams a day; for other issues, 500 milligrams daily seems to be the standard. While it’s possible to be allergic to fenugreek it’s relatively rare; if you’re already allergic to chickpeas or peanuts, you might be slightly more susceptible to being allergic to fenugreek.
As far as medicinal uses, scientists say that fenugreek is largely safe when taken in amounts common in food. Much larger doses may pose some risks, but side effects are largely limited to gastrointestinal issues like gas, bloating, stomach upset, and diarrhoea. Apparently, it also might make your wee smell of maple syrup, which we’ll agree is a bit odd!
The Ultimate Spice
Whether it’s adding its distinctive flavour to curries or other meals or it’s any one of the myriad ways it can treat diabetes support your overall health, fenugreek is one of the most useful and valuable spices in Indian cuisine and beyond. This maple-scented herb certainly deserves a place in your kitchen — and our fenugreek supplements belong in your life.
