Fenugreek herb 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.

Fenugreek herb (seed), 100 Capsules, 610 mg - Nature's Way

Fenugreek herb (Trigonella foenum graecum) is an annual Mediterranean and Asiatic herb with aromatic seeds.

Fenugreek herb for Diabetes
For millennia, fenugreek herb 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 herb
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 herb and endurance
Effects of fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum greaecum) extract on endurance capacity in mice.
J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2006 Aug;52(4):287-92. Laboratory of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Science, Graduate School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
The present study was designed to determine the effect of fenugreek seed extract on endurance capacity in male mice aged 4 wk. Mice were given orally either vehicle or fenugreek seed extract (150, 300 mg/kg body weight) by stomach intubation for 4 wk. The 300 mg/ kg fenugreek seed extract group showed a significant increase in swimming time to exhaustion as compared to the control group. In the fenugreek seed extract groups, blood lactate concentration was significantly lower than in the control group. In the control group, plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and plasma glucose were decreased by swimming exercise. But in the fenugreek seed extract group, NEFA and plasma glucose were significantly increased by swimming. Fenugreek seed extract treatment also significantly decreased fat accumulation. These results suggest that improvement in swimming endurance by the administration of fenugreek seed extract is caused by the increase in utilization of fatty acids as an energy source.

Fenugreek herb studies
Effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds on glycaemic control and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a double blind placebo controlled study.
J Assoc Physicians India 2001 Nov;49:1057-61.
To evaluate the effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seeds on glycemic control and insulin resistance in mild to moderate type 2 diabetes mellitus we performed a double blind placebo controlled study. Twenty five newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes (fasting glucose < 200 mg/dl) were randomly divided into two groups. Group I (n=12) received 1 gm/day hydroalcoholic extract of fenugreek seeds and Group II (n=13) received usual care (dietary control, exercise) and placebo capsules for two months. Adjunct use of fenugreek seeds improves glycemic control and decreases insulin resistance in mild type-2 diabetic patients. Fenugreek also has a favorable effect on hypertriglyceridemia.

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