Fenugreek is a food and a spice commonly eaten in many parts of the world, and has been used for centuries by practitioners of Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Research in the past two decades has shown that fenugreek seeds help lower blood sugar in diabetics. Fenugreek may also lower levels of triglycerides. For more fenugreek information. For a natural sugar alternative, see stevia benefit information.

Buy Fenugreek capsules, 610 mg - Nature's Way

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) is an annual Mediterranean and Asiatic herb with aromatic seeds.
Fenugreek seed Supplement Facts
Fenugreek (seed) - 1.22 g per 2 capsules

Fenugreek for Diabetes
For millennia, fenugreek has been used both as a medicine and as a food spice in Egypt, India, and the Middle East. Present interest in fenugreek focuses on its potential benefits for people with diabetes or high cholesterol. Numerous animal studies and preliminary trials in humans have found that fenugreek can reduce blood sugar and serum cholesterol levels in people with diabetes.
     In a study conducted at the Jaipur Diabetes and Research Centre in India, 25 newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into two groups. Group received 1 gm/day extract of fenugreek seeds and Group 2 received usual care (dietary control, exercise) and placebo capsules for two months. Serum triglycerides decreased and HDL (the good cholesterol) increased significantly in group 1 as compared to group 2. In addition, fenugreek seeds improved blood sugar control and decreased insulin resistance in those with mild type-2 diabetic patients.

Safety of Fenugreek
As a commonly eaten food, fenugreek is generally regarded as safe. The only common side effect is mild gastrointestinal distress when it is taken in high doses. Animal studies have found fenugreek essentially non-toxic.

Fenugreek Additional Benefits
Studies in rodents indicate that fenugreek has immune stimulating, anti-oxidant properties, and protects the liver against alcohol toxicity. Administration of fenugreek seed extract with ethanol to rats prevented the enzymatic leakage and the rise in lipid peroxidation. The seeds exhibited appreciable antioxidant property in vitro which was comparable with that of reduced glutathione and vitamin E. Further, examination of liver and brain revealed that, extract of fenugreek seeds could offer a significant protection against ethanol toxicity.
   Fenugreek also has anti-ulcer properties.  

Fenugreek and blood lipids
Fenugreek seed ( Trigonella foenum graecum ) polyphenols inhibit ethanol-induced collagen and lipid accumulation in rat liver.
Cell Biol Toxicol. 2007 Apr 24; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, 608 002, India,
Chronic alcoholism is associated with fatty liver and fibrosis characterized by collagen accumulation. Seeds of fenugreek, an annual herb, are reported to possess liver protective activity. The study aims to investigate the effects of fenugreek seed polyphenol extract on liver lipids and collagen in experimental hepatotoxic rats. Hepatotoxicity was induced in male albino Wistar rats by administrating ethanol for 30 days. Control rats were given isocaloric glucose solution. Fenugreek seed polyphenol extract was co-administered with ethanol at a dose of 200 mg/kg per day for the next 30 days. Silymarin was used as a positive control. Ethanol treatment caused increase in plasma and liver lipids, together with alterations in collagen content and properties. Administration of Fenugreek seed polyphenol extract to alcohol-fed rats significantly improved lipid profile and reduced collagen content, crosslinking, aldehyde content and peroxidation. The effects were comparable with that of silymarin. Fenugreek seed polyphenol extract administration had a positive influence on both lipid profile and on the quantitative and qualitative properties of collagen in alcoholic liver disease. The protective effect is presumably due to the bioactive phytochemicals in fenugreek seeds.

Fenugreek emails
Q. Have read from sources that a combination of fenugreek and Blessed Thistle (NOT Milk Thistle) can be taken to increase and also help induce breast milk production. Could not locate Blessed Thistle on your extensive herbal listing. Could you please comment on both of these herbs for this purpose? Dr. Jack Newman in Canada has a protocol for the use of fenugreek and blessed thistle for lactation.
   A. We have not studied this herbal combination for lactation and do not have experience using fenugreek and blessed thistle for milk production. We are also not aware of human research with this combination of herbs. Therefore he we are not able to confirm or object to the effectiveness of this herbal protocol for lactation inducement.

Fenugreek (seed), Nature's Way
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) is an annual Mediterranean and Asiatic herb with aromatic seeds.

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