Contains: Organic Fenugreek Seeds, Grain Spirits 50%
Overview: A tradtional remedy, used also as a seasoning in the Middle East. Gentle, safe and good for long-term use.
In Depth: Use for sore throats, digestion, intestinal gas, breast milk production. Also great for children.
Most cooks or culinary experts know that fenugreek is the cornerstone of a good curry. It is also in maple-flavored products, vanilla, and some other foods you might not suspect. In addition to its uses as a spice and coloring agent, fenugreek is well-known in many cultures—especially among Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans—as a sacred plant because of its medicinal qualities.
Here's a few of the most notable health benefits this little seed is purported to have:
• Lowers blood sugar: Fenugreek has important implications for diabetics. Studies have shown that it helps stabilize blood sugar control in people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. But if you're currently on medication for diabetes, inform your physician
if you decide to try fenugreek capsules. Like cinnamon, it is so effective, its hypoglycemic effect could be dangerous if taken suddenly and in high doses. But when monitored by a physician, it could be part of your natural management of blood sugar.
• Lowers "bad" cholesterol: Fenugreek is apparently able to sort out the good from the bad when it comes to cholesterol. In a 24 week-study where subjects consumed 25 g a day of fenugreek, HDL (good) cholesterol showed a 10 percent total increase, while LDL (bad) levels steadily decreased throughout the testing period.
• Aids digestion: Fenugreek stimulates the pancreas and can aid in digestion.
The medicinal properties are in their highest concentration in the seeds, which have a bitter taste that improves when toasted.
If you've been thinking about branching out in the kitchen, you might want to try some Middle Eastern or North African dishes that are heavily spiced with fenugreek. Or, it also comes in powder and gum forms, in addition to capsules. |
