GOQii

Blog

  • HOME
  • HEALTHY LIVING
  • FITNESS
  • HEALTHY RECIPES
  • USER STORIES
  • KARMA
  • BUY GOQii

October 1, 2015 By Payal Choudhury 10 Comments

15 things you did not know about Fenugreek “Methi’

fenugreek

We are all aware Fenugreek right? Wondering what is Fenugreek? It’s nothing but, Methi in Hindi Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) is native to southern Europe and Asia and is an erect annual herb with white flowers and hard, yellowish brown and angular seeds.

Fenugreek seeds and leaves are strongly aromatic and flavourful. Seeds are bitter in taste but lose their bitterness if roasted slightly. They are rich in vitamins such as thiamine, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins A, B6, and C, and are a storehouse of minerals such as copper, potassium, calcium, iron, selenium, zinc, manganese, and magnesium. Fenugreek leaves are a rich source of vitamin K as well.

Several human intervention trials have also shown that fenugreek seeds positively affect metabolic health. Fenugreek seeds have a slightly bitter taste when raw, but when they are sprouted, the flavour becomes pungently sweet, adding a unique taste to salads and other foods.

Methi or fenugreek seeds and leaves form an important ingredient in Indian households. It is used in almost every Indian preparation like dal, paratha or curry. But, what we might not know is that methi is a rich reservoir of medicinal properties that imparts many health benefits. Here are some ways which reflects the benefits of fenugreek.

  1. Lowers blood cholesterol

Fenugreek helps to reduce cholesterol level, especially that of low density lipoprotein (LDL). They are known to be rich source of steroidal saponins that prevent the absorption of cholesterol and triglycerides.

  1. Reduces risk of heart disease

Due to the presence of galactomannan, fenugreek plays a key role in maintaining a good heart. It also contains high amount of potassium that counters the action of sodium to help control heart rate and blood pressure.

  1. Controls blood sugar levels

A Diabetic must include methi (either in the form of seeds or leaves) in their diet. Because galactomannan, a natural soluble fibre present in fenugreek slows down the rate of sugar absorption into blood. It also contains amino acid responsible for inducing the production of insulin.

  1. Aids digestion

As fenugreek is rich in fibre and antioxidants, it helps in flushing out harmful toxins from the body and thus, aids digestion. In some cases, fenugreek tea is used to relieve indigestion and stomach pain.

  1. Helps counter acid reflux or heartburn

One teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in our food can be an effective remedy for acid reflux or heartburn. Mucilage of fenugreek seeds coat the lining of the stomach and intestine and soothe irritated gastrointestinal tissues. Before consuming, we can soak the methi seeds in water to make their outer coat mucilaginous.

  1. Helps you lose weight

Include fenugreek in our weight loss diet by chewing soaked methi seeds in the morning on an empty stomach. The natural soluble fibre in the fenugreek can swell and fill the stomach thereby suppressing our appetite and aiding in weight loss goals.

  1. Remedy for fever and sore throat

Fenugreek when taken with a teaspoon of lemon and honey can work wonders to reduce fever by nourishing the body. The soothing effect of mucilage in fenugreek also helps in relieving cough and pain from sore throat.

  1. Increases breast milk production in lactating women

Fenugreek ranks high among the ‘must haves’ for nursing mothers. This is due to the presence of diosgenin in the spice which increases milk production in lactating mothers. Fenugreek is used as a galactagogue by nursing mothers to increase inadequate breast milk supply.

9. Induces and eases child birth

Fenugreek has been known to be helpful in inducing childbirth by stimulating uterine contractions. It also reduces labour pain. But, here’s a word of caution. Excess intake of fenugreek seeds during pregnancy could be a reason of miscarriage or premature childbirth.

  1. Helps reduce menstrual discomfort

Fenugreek contains compounds like diosgenin and isoflavones with oestrogen-like properties which helps reduce symptoms like discomfort and menstrual cramps associated with PMS. These compounds also ease menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood fluctuations. Women are more prone to iron deficiency during adolescence (initiation of menstrual periods), during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Therefore including green leafy veggies like fenugreek (methi) in their diet can supply a good amount of iron. But, make sure to add tomatoes or potatoes to the preparations to enhance the iron absorption.

  1. Helps prevent colon cancer

The fibre content (saponins, mucilage, etc.) of fenugreek binds to toxins in the food and flush them out. This in turn helps to protect the mucus membrane of the colon from cancer.

  1. Helps soothe skin inflammation and reduce scars

While Vitamin C acts as a powerful antioxidant, fenugreek also contains anti-inflammatory compounds that aid in the treatment of various skin problems like burns, boils and eczema. The seeds are known to help in getting rid of scars.

14 Helps treat skin problems

Fenugreek or methi can be used in face packs to help prevent blackheads, pimples, wrinkles, etc. Washing your face with water boiled with fenugreek seeds or applying a paste of fresh fenugreek leaves for twenty minutes on your face can work wonders for your skin.

15 Can resolve hair problems

Using fenugreek as a part of your diet or as a paste to directly apply on your hair makes your hair shiny and black. Massaging your head everyday with boiled fenugreek seeds soaked overnight in coconut oil can be an excellent remedy for thinning of hair and hair fall.

To de-stress, here is a homemade remedy:

Fenugreek Seed Tea

1. Lightly crush a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds.

2. Soak them in a cup of freshly boiled water and steep it for 1 to 3 hours. (The longer you steep, higher the benefits).

3. Strain the tea, add honey and lemon to taste and drink it hot or cold. You can add tea leaves or other herbs too for different flavour.

 

About Payal Choudhury

A post graduate in Dietetics and Food Service Management, Payal Choudhury believes ‘Health is the manifestation of fitness of a body which can be induced through correct physical exercise and planned diet as per body requirement.’ A fitness enthusiast, she applies this belief to her own life by way of yoga and brisk walking. Equipped with the knowledge in nutrition, therapeutic care and diabetes management, Payal is constantly on the look out for opportunities to attend workshops and seminars to enhance this knowledge further. In the past she has interned and worked with some renowned hospitals in Mumbai.Her other interests include travelling and cooking. Her regular fitness regime involves walking regularly. her idea of relieving stress or relaxation is to listen to music and take proper rest. Positive thinking and being optimistic drives her power-wheel.

❮❮ Previous Post
Next Post ❯ ❯

Comments

  1. charmi says

    October 1, 2015 at 11:16 pm

    Great Info !!!

    Reply
  2. Swati mishra says

    May 11, 2018 at 4:05 pm

    How long can we eat soaked meeti? Can we eat life long

    Reply
  3. Karen says

    June 23, 2018 at 2:57 am

    Heard it works on dark circles beneath the eyes as well. Soak overnight.

    Reply
  4. Paul Noorbergen says

    August 7, 2018 at 10:45 am

    Hello Choudhury Payal, such a beautiful name , I take the fenugreek oil in a 500mg capsule twice daily and I also like to do some yoga in every morning. In the evening I have a slow walk to warm-up my muscles a bit and afterwards altering it to a brisk pace , like power walking I spose and some short distance jogging (only about 100m at a time) then back to slow pace walk , , then start the whole sequence again and again until I’ve done about 4 klm. I like it but my dog loves it ,lol
    . I am single, and you ? (a question you were not expecting I’m sure)
    If you are -are u interested in the trip to Australia ? I read your love for travel and here is a wonderful place to live. Where you are living is highly populated I’m sure. I am not sure of the air quality but I think that it’s not a very healthy environment for healthy life. ? Where I live in Australia, only 120klm from Melbourne, the water in the rivers are very clean and pure ( they are freezing cold though) and would make an excellent ritual to start by jumping in for the initial shock to the system and then swim either with or against the flow, which in the Goulburn River can be quite strong in some sections and gentler in other parts. This particular river is the largest in width being some 35 meters wide (you will love it im sure) If you like nature and camping out you will have a good experience with our native mammals, birds and reptiles. Most are safe to catch and hold long enough for a photo if that’s what you want, but some are dangerous and some are poisonous so we’ll keep an eye out for them… , staying well clear, lol.
    This is all if your single, wanna come here and meet

    Reply
  5. Vora says

    November 19, 2018 at 9:07 am

    How about kedny? Harmful or no harmful?

    Reply
  6. Soh Wah liong says

    December 21, 2018 at 7:54 am

    Can I drink Mehdi seed water , so must I inject insulin after drinking.

    Reply
  7. Karunagaran Govindasamy says

    August 8, 2019 at 12:50 pm

    Hi. Payal. (Is it ok to address you as Payal?)
    I am 77 years young.I was into heavy sports and such and I have trophies as bragging rights and many sport injuries to match.From late fifties I began to suffer with joint and muscle pains.Doctors prescribed many a “pain killers”but to no avail.In order to avoid acute side effects,I had to replace both my knees,shortly followed by both elbows and finally my shoulders.My mother(an Ayurveda/ic proponent) proposed an in take of fenugreek in various forms.
    Well. my hips are in good state.My orthopedic friends are surprised.NO MORE PAIN KILLERS.I now, just walk with a walking stick.
    Best Regards.
    Karunagaran Govindasamy PhD Engineering (Karuna)

    Reply
    • TK GUPTA says

      March 14, 2020 at 12:31 am

      Vow…Karuna…hats off to you …Very encouraging to read what you have written….My mother is 85….had her left knee replaced 2 times….unable to walk for the last 3 years….join pains, etc a major concern….She is on Pradaxa 75mg an anticoagulant medicine……Would be grateful if you could share how exactly she must consume methi (fenugreek) how much per day, how long etc…
      God Bless You.

      Reply
  8. Jason says

    September 18, 2020 at 9:24 am

    Does meethi helps in Erectile dyfuction and regain sex power

    Reply
  9. JesseA says

    February 4, 2022 at 9:43 am

    Very informative; thanks for sharing these benefits and usage of Fenugreek seed. I love to use homemade remedies. I learned a lot about Fenugreek seed’s benefits for health and haircare from another blog, on iahas.com , and that was also very well researched. I will also add your blog to my list.
    Keep posting great stuff.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search

Recent Posts

  • Keep Summer Cool With The Right Foods
  • Can You Workout On An Empty Stomach?
  • Foods to Boost Memory Power
  • Healthy Eating: Sweet Potato and Chickpea Tikkis
  • 5 Simple Lifestyle Changes To Manage Hypertension

Stay Updated

Archives

  • March 2023 (28)
  • February 2023 (28)
  • January 2023 (31)
  • December 2022 (31)
  • November 2022 (30)
  • October 2022 (31)
  • September 2022 (30)
  • August 2022 (31)
  • July 2022 (30)
  • June 2022 (30)
  • May 2022 (30)
  • April 2022 (28)
  • March 2022 (27)
  • February 2022 (22)
  • January 2022 (23)
  • December 2021 (18)
  • November 2021 (17)
  • October 2021 (14)
  • September 2021 (12)
  • August 2021 (15)
  • July 2021 (18)
  • June 2021 (19)
  • May 2021 (17)
  • April 2021 (16)
  • March 2021 (16)
  • February 2021 (9)
  • January 2021 (10)
  • December 2020 (9)
  • November 2020 (5)
  • October 2020 (12)
  • September 2020 (9)
  • August 2020 (6)
  • July 2020 (3)
  • June 2020 (8)
  • May 2020 (12)
  • April 2020 (14)
  • March 2020 (13)
  • February 2020 (6)
  • January 2020 (5)
  • December 2019 (7)
  • November 2019 (9)
  • October 2019 (9)
  • September 2019 (6)
  • August 2019 (9)
  • July 2019 (12)
  • June 2019 (13)
  • May 2019 (9)
  • April 2019 (13)
  • March 2019 (13)
  • February 2019 (14)
  • January 2019 (19)
  • December 2018 (13)
  • November 2018 (9)
  • October 2018 (11)
  • September 2018 (11)
  • August 2018 (23)
  • July 2018 (13)
  • June 2018 (22)
  • May 2018 (16)
  • April 2018 (23)
  • March 2018 (17)
  • February 2018 (13)
  • January 2018 (18)
  • December 2017 (13)
  • November 2017 (25)
  • October 2017 (21)
  • September 2017 (20)
  • August 2017 (7)
  • July 2017 (11)
  • June 2017 (12)
  • May 2017 (14)
  • April 2017 (9)
  • March 2017 (6)
  • February 2017 (7)
  • January 2017 (11)
  • December 2016 (10)
  • November 2016 (8)
  • October 2016 (9)
  • September 2016 (7)
  • August 2016 (12)
  • July 2016 (10)
  • June 2016 (10)
  • May 2016 (12)
  • April 2016 (17)
  • March 2016 (18)
  • February 2016 (8)
  • January 2016 (6)
  • December 2015 (4)
  • November 2015 (9)
  • October 2015 (8)
  • September 2015 (10)
  • August 2015 (13)
  • July 2015 (10)
  • June 2015 (12)
  • May 2015 (9)
  • April 2015 (13)
  • March 2015 (9)
  • February 2015 (6)
  • January 2015 (12)
  • December 2014 (14)
  • November 2014 (11)
  • October 2014 (6)
  • September 2014 (14)
  • August 2014 (14)
  • July 2014 (7)
  • June 2014 (3)
  • May 2014 (8)
  • April 2014 (5)
Digvijay Singh

How Digvijay Singh Reversed Chronic BP Issues & Lost Weight With GOQii

Do you feel that no matter what you do, you’re unable to lose weight? You go for walks, meditate and even eat right but that scale doesn’t budge while lifestyle diseases plague you. Our Player Digvijay Singh was stuck in a similar predicament.  Life Before … [Read More...]

Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

We’ve always advocated that lifestyle diseases can be managed with a balanced, healthy and holistic lifestyle but can they also help you manage a terminal condition? Our Player Ananda Mukherjee, with help from his GOQii Coach, was able to battle such a condition. Here’s how his inspirational Health Story unfolded. Going From Slender To Overweight  […]

Rishikesh Ayre

The Right Guidance With Gradual Change – Rishikesh Ayre User Journey

Do you want to make a positive lifestyle change but don’t know how? Does it take every ounce of motivation for you to move? Do you need a nudge in the right direction? These are all valid questions and you’re not alone. Sometimes, we want to begin something new but don’t know where to start. […]

Venkatrao Alaparthi Loses 20kg With Guidance From His GOQii Coach

Venkatrao Alaparthi Loses 20kg With Guidance From His GOQii Coach

While earning a good livelihood is important, is it taking more life out of living? Long working hours, being seated most of the time with no physical activity and bad eating habits can take a toll on your health over a period of time. If this sounds relatable, you might have a lot in common […]

  • HOME
  • HEALTHY LIVING
  • FITNESS
  • HEALTHY RECIPES
  • USER STORIES
  • KARMA
  • BUY GOQii

Copyright ©2016 GOQii