Fenugreek Seed

Fenugreek. Perhaps you know flavorful fenugreek seed extract from the pea family as an herbal flavoring in mostly Indian dishes, or a natural remedy for indigestion. Some use it to help increase breast milk supply. The amazing little seeds have been studied recently for their benefits in men’s sexual function and for their impact on diabetes.

Fenugreek – Improvement of Sexual Function in Healthy Men

In the first published study of fenugreek seed extract and male hormone deficiency, doctors noted that fenugreek may help improve sexual function in aging men.

In this study, 120 healthy men, age 43 to 70, took a placebo or 600 mg of fenugreek seed extract per day. India and North Africa have traditionally used fenugreek to treat sexual dysfunction in men. Fenugreek may improve sexual function in part by increasing testosterone levels, which decline with age. 

After 12 weeks, compared to placebo, men in the fenugreek group had higher levels of serum and free testosterone. Men taking fenugreek also reported more morning erections and more frequent sexual activity compared to the start of the study.

Reference: The Aging Male, Taylor & Francis; January, 2016, Published Online

Fenugreek – Benefits for Diabetes

Many people with metabolic abnormalities, including glucose intolerance and elevated blood sugar levels, are unaware they are pre-diabetic and more likely to progress to type 2 diabetes. In this study, 66 pre-diabetic men and women took 5,000 mg of fenugreek powder twice per day with 6.5 ounces of water, while 74 similar participants did not.

After three years, those who took fenugreek were 76 percent less likely to have progressed to type 2 diabetes than those who did not take fenugreek. Also, the fenugreek group had lower fasting and after-meal glucose levels, and lower levels of LDL cholesterol, while the non-fenugreek group increased in these measures. Insulin levels and resistance also improved for those taking fenugreek.

Reference: Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders; 2015, Vol. 14, No. 74, Published Online

Using Fenugreek

Fenugreek does you no good unless you consume it. Grind it to a powder, roast the seeds whole to intensify flavor, or soak them to soften. Any method you use will work and you can enrich scrambled eggs, salads, and soups with little fuss.