Depending on the stage of life they’re currently in, women will have varied needs. The type of health support you need in your teens will be different from your needs as a fifty-year-old. Tweaking your health habits to best suit your present circumstance will always lead to the best results.
So, what does that have to do with the health benefits of fenugreek? Here’s the deal: Fenugreek is a promising supplement for women’s health because it boasts properties that are beneficial to women of all ages.
Whether you’re a young woman dealing with period pains, a breastfeeding mom, or are entering menopause, incorporating fenugreek into your supplement rotation may be a good idea.
But first, what is fenugreek?
Belonging to the same family as soy, fenugreek is an herb that is commonly used to promote lactation in women, among other uses. It is native to western parts of Asia, southern Europe, and the Mediterranean region.
Fenugreek has long been used as an herbal remedy in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine. It is also known by its scientific name,
Trigonella foenum-graecum.
Aside from being consumed as a supplement, it is also widely used as a spice or flavoring agent. Fenugreek is also a popular component used for masking the unpleasant taste of medicine owing to its maple-like taste.
Benefits of fenugreek
Without further ado, here are eight ways fenugreek benefits your health and wellbeing.
1. Fenugreek helps stimulate milk production in breastfeeding women.
When it comes to infant nutrition, nothing beats breast milk. In fact, research suggests that a delay in breastfeeding contributes to a
higher risk of newborn mortality.
However, inadequate breast milk production is definitely an issue. No matter how much you want to commit to breastfeeding, sometimes, things simply don’t work in your favor. The good news is, there’s something you can do about this.
Practitioners of traditional medicine have long recommended taking fenugreek to promote lactation. For years and years, moms who are having trouble producing enough milk have turned to fenugreek for support.
In a study published in 2014, fenugreek, along with palm dates, was shown to be effective at
improving breast milk production early on in the postpartum period.
In
another study of 66 women and their babies, the effectiveness of fenugreek tea in promoting breast milk production was investigated. It was found that those in the fenugreek group produced significantly higher breast milk volume than those in the placebo and control groups.
What’s more, the infants belonging to the fenugreek group regained their birth weight faster than the two other groups. This suggests that consuming fenugreek can help mothers in their breastfeeding journey—consequently contributing to better infant health.
2. Fenugreek may help ease dysmenorrhea.
Pain relief is one of fenugreek’s earliest applications in traditional medicine. It’s not surprising, then, that it also became popular for helping ease dysmenorrhea.
Dysmenorrhea affects the quality of life of millions of women all over the world. Those who suffer from really bad cases of menstrual pain know how debilitating this condition can be. It significantly impacts your productivity and, in many cases, it completely prevents you from functioning normally.
The good news is that in
a study involving 101 women, taking fenugreek seed capsules thrice a day during the first three days of their periods led to promising results after two months. Fenugreek seed powder was found to reduce the severity of dysmenorrhea and shorten the duration of menstrual pain.
This effect is mainly attributed to the presence of compounds called alkaloids in fenugreek, which help block sensory receptors in the brain that are responsible for processing and perceiving pain.
That said, if you’re looking for a natural supplement for dysmenorrhea that can help reduce the need for painkillers, fenugreek is a promising option.
3. It may help minimize the symptoms of menopause.
Fenugreek isn’t only beneficial to young women and mothers. It’s also a useful supplement for women undergoing menopause.
According to
a 2017 review, fenugreek is effective in the treatment of vasomotor symptoms in menopause. Such symptoms include flushing, hot flashes, and night sweats
In a
study involving 88 women with moderate to severe postmenopausal symptoms, 500 to 1000 mg of fenugreek extract per day for 12 weeks led to reduced symptoms among the subjects. Compared to the placebo group, those who took fenugreek had a 68% reduction in mood swing scores, a 57% reduction in night sweats, and a 54% reduction in headache measures.
Also,
animal studies have shown the potential of fenugreek at reducing brain function decline during menopause. However, more studies are needed to determine fenugreek’s neurocognitive benefits among menopausal women.
4. It helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Studies suggest that fenugreek may help maintain healthy blood sugar levels and thus,
help out those who are struggling with diabetes.
A
study investigating the effect of fenugreek seeds on type I diabetic patients found that the herb can help in significantly lowering fasting blood sugar. Moreover, fenugreek was shown to help the subjects improve their glucose tolerance.
Likewise, a
study involving type II diabetic subjects found that daily supplementation of fenugreek powder—either in capsule form or mixed with food—helped lower blood sugar levels among the patients. The same study found that this routine led to a decrease in oral diabetes medication intake, as well.
But fenugreek’s glucose-regulating effects aren’t limited to diabetics. A
study whose subjects were healthy male adults produced similar outcomes. In the study, fenugreek extract was able to lower blood sugar levels by 13.4% four hours after time of intake.
5. Fenugreek can help boost libido in men and women.
One of fenugreek’s traditional applications is boosting libido. Ancient cultures consumed fenugreek in their diets to help enhance their sexual desire. As such, modern studies have popped up to investigate this claim.
In a
2017 study investigating the effects of fenugreek on 50 male volunteers, it was found that 500 mg of fenugreek extract increased free testosterone levels in men. This resulted in improvements in the subjects’ mental alertness, sperm count, and libido. A similar effect was observed in
a different study concerning 60 males and spanning six weeks.
Furthermore, fenugreek has also been found to help enhance libido in women. In
a study that tested the influence of fenugreek seed extract on sexual function, women who took 600 mg of fenugreek extract daily experienced increased sexual arousal and desire.
6. It has anti-inflammatory properties.
Fenugreek’s significant antioxidant content makes it a promising anti-inflammatory agent.
In one study, it was found that fenugreek’s alkaloid and flavonoid content gave the plant
anti-inflammatory properties. This is not surprising given that fenugreek is often used in traditional medicine to
help with skin inflammation associated with eczema, ulcers, and furunculosis (boils).
Fenugreek’s anti-inflammatory properties have also been studied and observed in animal research involving
rats and
mice. In one
study, fenugreek supplementation was able to help reduce joint inflammation among rats with arthritis.
7. Fenugreek for weight loss.
If you’re trying to lose a few pounds (or several), fenugreek may help.
Fenugreek has been shown to help
reduce feelings of hunger and increase feelings of fullness in overweight women. In another
study involving 18 obese human subjects, those who consumed fenugreek alongside breakfast experienced an increase in satiety and ate significantly fewer calories during lunch.
Moreover, regularly taking fenugreek seed extract was found to help healthy overweight adults
consume less fat.
These studies suggest that fenugreek supplements may help you lose weight by influencing you to consume fewer calories and eat less fat. If you have been struggling with the diet component of your weight loss plan, fenugreek capsules are worth looking into.
8. Fenugreek is good for the heart and cardiovascular health.
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. This fact only emphasizes the importance of looking after your heart and cardiovascular health early on in life.
Unavoidable factors like genetics contribute to your risk level as far as developing heart disease goes. But through a healthy diet and an active and balanced lifestyle, you can positively impact how well your heart will fare later on.
That said, regularly taking fenugreek supplements can contribute to better heart and cardiovascular health. This herbal remedy benefits your cardiovascular health in several ways:
- It can help lower cholesterol levels.
- It can help regulate blood pressure.
- It can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
The Bottom Line
Fenugreek is a popular supplement for women’s health that is known to offer a myriad of health benefits.
Primarily used for promoting lactation in breastfeeding moms, fenugreek can also help ease dysmenorrhea and menopausal symptoms. This makes it a versatile herb that is ideal for women of all ages.
Also, supplementing with fenugreek extract daily may help lower blood sugar levels and help manage diabetes, support heart and cardiovascular health, and reduce inflammation.
On top of these, fenugreek has also been found to help increase libido among men and women and promote weight loss among overweight and obese adults.
Buy Fenugreek Capsules in the Philippines
Nourish your body with high-quality Fenugreek supplements from Puritan’s Pride. Made with the highest standards and the best ingredients, Puritan’s Pride Fenugreek capsules are designed to deliver all the wonderful health benefits of this herb in a convenient and easy-to-swallow format.
Learn more about our Fenugreek supplement by clicking
this link.
