Fenugreek (Methi) Seeds

As I mentioned in my last post, most popularly suggested remedy to treat diabetes is to use the Fenugreek / Methi seeds / Menthulu and it’s by products.

Suggested remedies:

• Take a table spoon of raw Fenugreek seeds, three times a day with meals.
• Take 2 table spoons of raw Fenugreek seeds along with water as soon as you wake up. Alternatively you can take it with yogurt/curd as well.
• Mix 2 table spoons of Fenugreek seed powder mixed with yogurt/curd and eat it as the first item in the morning.
• Soak 2 table spoons of raw Fenugreek seeds overnight and eat it as the first item in the morning.

Side effects: High dose my cause mild digestive distress.

Scientific name: Trigonella foenum-graecum

Scientific reason to cure diabetes:

The chemical compounds found in fenugreek have the ability to aid the digestive process. Consequently, when taken with meals it is believed that fenugreek is able to slow down the rate at which sugars are absorbed into the body, whereby regulating blood sugar levels. Additionally, studies indicate that 4-hydroxyisoleucine (an amino acid) found in fenugreek may induce or promote the production of insulin when blood sugar levels are elevated. The mechanism is thought to delay gastric emptying, slow carbohydrate absorption and inhibit glucose transport.

Several human intervention trials demonstrated that the anti-diabetic effects of fenugreek seeds ameliorate most metabolic symptoms associated with type-1 and type-2 diabetes in both humans and relevant animal models by reducing serum glucose and improving glucose tolerance. Supplements of fenugreek seeds were shown to lower serum cholesterol and triglyceride.

Fenugreek is currently available commercially in encapsulated forms and is being prescribed as dietary supplements for the control of hypercholesterolemia and diabetes by practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine. There are quite a few fenugreek extract powder (4 - Hydroxyisoleucine) capsule in the market these days.