Fenugreek Seeds Benefits and Side Effects – DocIndia.org

Many health care professionals advise people to consume meals made of fenugreek seeds. This is because these seeds are rich in high amounts of nutrients, which help you to stay fit and healthy. But before you start having foods made of fenugreek seeds in your diet, you need to understand the types of nutrients that are found in these seeds, how you would be physiologically benefited from them, and other related details. This article is likely to provide an in-depth idea of some of the most common health benefits that you may derive from fenugreek seeds.

Read this article till the end so that you may get a clear idea about what fenugreek seeds are all about, the types of health benefits you can get from them, the risk factors, and some other major aspects about fenugreek seeds.

Why do you need to have fenugreek seeds in your diet?

Doctors and health experts usually recommend that people consume fenugreek seeds in their diet because these seeds are low in calorie content, which on one hand helps in healthy weight management and on the other hand reduces the chances of becoming obese. Moreover, fenugreek seeds are rich in essential micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals, which are crucial for the body to maintain healthy physiological functioning. Some of the major types of minerals that are found in fenugreek seeds include sodium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, copper, and so on.

The rich sources of carbohydrates that are present in fenugreek seeds help to provide ample energy to the body so that you can function efficiently throughout the day. These seeds are also rich in healthy fats and fiber, which are necessary for staying healthy. Apart from these essential nutrients, fenugreek seeds are also a major source of vital antioxidants, several types of bioactive compounds, and phytochemicals. Fenugreek seeds are rich in phenolic acids, along with galactomannan, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and hydrocarbons, which, when consumed in your diet, will help you to stay healthy and free from chronic diseases.

List of all the health benefits derived from fenugreek seeds:

There can be several types of health benefits that you may derive after you start adding fenugreek seeds to your daily meals. Some of the most common types of health benefits that you may get from these seeds may be listed here as follows:

1. Fenugreek seeds improve digestion and gut health:

Experts and dietitians always advise people to take in fenugreek seeds, especially when they suffer from problems like digestion and gut issues. It is often claimed in studies that the nutrients that are present in fenugreek seeds help to improve your overall digestive system by lowering the symptoms of indigestion, stomach upset, pain and discomfort in the stomach, heartburn, and other problems in the stomach. Some experts also claim that the nutrients in fenugreek seeds, especially the rich amounts of galactomannan, a type of fiber found in these seeds, can help to lower the risks of developing gastrointestinal symptoms and conditions.

Moreover, the rich sources of fiber that are present in fenugreek seeds help in better movement of the bowel through the colon, and this helps to reduce the risks of developing gut problems like constipation. The nutrients in fenugreek seeds also help to improve the health of the gut microbiome, that is, the gut bacteria, which can help resolve several gut problems.

2. Fenugreek seeds help in proper weight management:

Are you somebody who is planning to get rid of excess body weight soon? If yes, then try adding fenugreek seeds to your weight loss regimen. This is because fenugreek seeds are rich in high amounts of soluble fiber, which is known to be quite effective for weight management. The fiber in fenugreek seeds helps to reduce the chances of binge eating because it helps to give you a sense of fullness. This is quite beneficial for reducing your body weight. Apart from this, fenugreek seeds are also low in calorie content, so having these seeds in your diet would not increase the amount of net calorie intake, which may affect your body weight.

Intake of these seeds in your diet can also increase processes like thermogenesis, through which your body creates heat and uses energy. This process can help you increase the number of calories you burn in a day, which can also help you reduce your body weight and maintain a healthy body shape.

3. Fenugreek seeds help to control blood sugar levels:

If you take in fenugreek seeds in your diet, especially when you have health disorders such as type 2 diabetes or high levels of blood sugar, then the nutrients in these seeds are likely to control the spikes in blood sugar levels. Many health care professionals claim that the nutrients which are present in these seeds help to lower down the levels of fasting blood sugar levels, along with the levels of blood glucose that are taken two hours after a meal, or the post-prandial blood sugar levels. Having fenugreek seeds is also linked with the lowering of the levels of average blood sugar for the last three months, which are measured through hemoglobin A1c tests.

4. Fenugreek seeds keep your heart in good health:

The nutrients that are present in fenugreek seeds are known to keep your heart in good health. This is because the vitamins and minerals in these seeds, along with the rich sources of plant-based phytonutrients, help to exhibit anti-inflammatory functions, which help to reduce the risks of developing various types of heart diseases.

Moreover, the nutrients in fenugreek seeds are known to significantly lower the levels of bad or LDL cholesterol, which are otherwise known to result in some of the most severe types of cardiovascular diseases, such as cardiac arrest, heart failure, heart attack, stroke, and so on. Apart from managing the total cholesterol levels, having fenugreek seeds can also result in reducing the levels of triglycerides and keeping the levels of HDL, or good cholesterol, at the correct levels, which are highly beneficial for your heart health.

Are fenugreek seeds beneficial for women?

According to many experts, using fenugreek seeds could provide immense health benefits, particularly to women. Some of the major health benefits that women can derive from including these seeds in their diet are given below:

1. Fenugreek seeds improve breast milk synthesis:

Many new mothers struggle with problems like low synthesis of milk after childbirth, and in such cases, fenugreek seeds may act as a natural remedy. These seeds are used as a galactagogue, which helps in enhancing the secretion of breast milk. But it is always advisable that before using fenugreek seeds for increasing the production of breast milk after childbirth, it is important to consult with a concerned physician or any expert to avoid the risks of side effects.

2. Fenugreek seeds help in managing menstrual cramps:

If you find yourself suffering from heavy pain as a result of menstrual cramps, then having a light beverage with fenugreek seeds added to it may help as a natural remedy to control the intense conditions of dysmenorrhea.

3. Fenugreek seeds help to control menopause symptoms:

Many experts and physicians claim that the extracts of fenugreek seeds consist of nutrients that help to control the symptoms of menopause in women, especially the vasomotor symptoms and depression in perimenopausal women, which may often include signs such as night sweats, hot flashes, and so on.

4. Fenugreek seeds help to reduce PCOS symptoms:

In recent times, many women are known to suffer from gynecological problems such as PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome. The nutrients that are present in the extracts of fenugreek seeds may act as a natural remedy for controlling PCOS symptoms.

What are the side effects of fenugreek seeds?

There are several health benefits of fenugreek seeds, but do you know, consumption of these seeds can result in side effects as well. Some of the most common side effects of having fenugreek seeds may include the following:

 Gas

 Diarrhea

 Allergic reactions

 Digestion problems such as stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, and so on.

Conclusion:

When you take in fenugreek seeds in your diet, you are likely to enjoy a lot of health benefits, such as improving digestion, heart health, controlling diabetes, and so on. But having fenugreek seeds can also result in some side effects, so it is also essential to be careful about the amount of seeds you consume.