The use of fenugreek goes back to centuries in both India and China. In Ayurveda, fenugreek is valued for its many health benefits, some of which includes treating diabetes, menstrual pain, and reducing cholesterol.

Fenugreek is a small plant that usually grows only three feet in height. This plant is commonly used in cooking as well. Fenugreek is used in various forms, for example, it is used as a herb after being dried, it is used as a vegetable, and the seeds are consumed as a spice or as a medicine.

While the scientific name for Fenugreek is Trigonella foenum-graecum, it has many other common names like Chandrika, Fenogreco, Fenugrec, Feoenugreek, Hu Lu Ba, Medhika, Methika, Methi, and Greek Clover.

Fenugreek seeds are amber-to-brown in colour, with rough, angular edges. It has a distinctly strong smell and a slightly bitter taste.

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about fenugreek seeds, as well as the role it plays in weight loss.

Fenugreek In India
Fenugreek is called methi in India. It is a favourite household ingredient, particularly in North Indian cuisine.

Fenugreek leaves are cooked in various forms. When the fresh leaves are cooked, it is called saag, and when the leaves are dried and used as an aromatic herb for flavouring, it is known as Kasuri methi.

The seeds are used whole as well as in powdered form as a spice in spice mixes such as Panch Phoron and Sambhar.

Apart from India, methi seeds are also used in Persian, Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine. Fenugreek is also used in various indigenous medicine traditions all over the world.

Fenugreek seeds for weight loss (Methi seeds for weight loss)
More often than not, there are a million misconceptions and myths that surround weight loss. Truth be told, there is no easy way to lose weight. It requires you to follow a good workout regime and a balanced, nutritious diet. However, there are a few foods that can be beneficial in losing weight, and fenugreek seeds or methi fall under this category.

Why Fenugreek For Weight Loss
Yes, if you are planning on losing weight, then adding fenugreek seeds as a part of your weight loss mission can actually help you lose weight.

For one, these seeds are fenugreek seeds are quite rich in fibre that it ensures that the sugar in your body is released slowly. This makes it beneficial in treating diabetes. The fibre content in fenugreek can also help increase the rate of metabolism in your body and aid in digestion.

Fenugreek seeds have also proven to be very useful in preventing fat accumulation. Experiments on obese rats showed that the regular consumption of fenugreek powder, mixed with water led to a significant decrease in body weight, body mass index(BMI), and white adipose tissue weight.

In addition to this, fenugreek seeds are high in protein. The high protein content in fenugreek adds to a feeling of fullness, which in turn reduces snacking or binge eating. This is also due to the presence of Galactomannan, which is a water-soluble compound that is found in fenugreek.

Studies also show that consumption of fenugreek supplements lead to increased body strength among bodybuilders.

According to Ayurveda, fenugreek seeds can help generate heat in your body. When consumed regularly, heat too will be generated in your body, thereby facilitating weight loss.

How to eat methi seeds for weight loss?
Fenugreek seeds are hard, have a sharp smell, and a bitter undertaste. So, chances are that you will not enjoy eating these seeds. To make things easier for you, there are other ways to consume methi seeds for weight loss. These are listed below:

1. Benefits Of Fenugreek Seeds Soaked In Water For Weight Loss
This happens to be the most popular way of consuming fenugreek seeds for weight loss. For this, you will have to soak around one or two tablespoons of methi seeds in 300 ml of water. Make sure you soak this overnight. In the morning you will notice that the water would have turned amber in colour. With the help of a strainer, discard the seeds, and drink methi dana water in the morning.

2. Fenugreek Seed Powder For Weight Loss
For this, you will have to grind the fenugreek seeds to make a powder out of it. If you can’t do this, you can buy ready-made fenugreek seed powder at home as well. You can mix a spoon of fenugreek seed powder in a glass of water and drink it. However, this might be difficult for consumption because of its bitter taste.

3. Sprouted Methi Seeds For Weight Loss

Consuming sprouted methi seeds is a great idea as by doing so, you will be ingesting all the essential minerals and fibres it contains. For this, you will require a thin clean piece of cloth. Soak it in clean water.

Then, take a handful of fenugreek seeds and gently place them on this clean moist cloth. Cover it up or keep it is a closed vessel for around three nights. Once the seeds have germinated, you can consume them.

Other key benefits of fenugreek seeds
For generations, fenugreek seeds are used in a variety of ways for their medicinal value.

Fenugreek is taken by mouth for myriad digestive problems such as loss of appetite, constipation, upset stomach, inflammation of the stomach (gastritis).

It is also a very popular home remedy for diabetes, painful menstruation, polycystic ovary syndrome, and poor thyroid function.

It is also used for atherosclerosis as well as to control cholesterol levels and triglycerides.

Here are some well-known benefits of fenugreek seeds:

1. Fenugreek Seeds For Diabetes

Methi seeds are great at controlling diabetes. This holds good for both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

How To Use Fenugreek Seeds For Diabetes
Several studies have found that regularly drinking fenugreek water or eating raw fenugreek powder before meals or an empty stomach reduces blood sugar levels.

Moreover, it helps decrease insulin resistance, and it lowers the rate of incidence of diabetes in pre-diabetics.

In a study that was conducted on type 1 diabetic patients, it was concluded that fenugreek could indeed regulate their blood sugar levels as well as reduce bad cholesterol. This was after giving them 50 grams of powdered fenugreek seeds during lunch.

Another study was also conducted, and this time it was on a group of people without diabetes. They were given the same dosage and a 13.4% decrease in their blood sugar levels was observed.

2. Fenugreek Seeds For Reducing Bad Cholesterol
It is a common misconception that cholesterol is bad for your body. this is far from the truth. Cholesterol is, in fact, responsible for cell function and for the hormones in your body. However, an abnormal rise in the levels of cholesterol in your body can be a cause of concern. Fenugreek seeds can help with this.

Methi seeds have high fibre content. This not only helps in lowering blood sugar but also reducing cholesterol. Methi also contains mucilage, tannins, pectin and hemicellulose. These compounds prevent bile salt absorption in the colon. This prevents LDL (bad cholesterol) build-up.

3 Fenugreek Seeds Are Rich In Protein
Fenugreek seed endosperm has a high protein content. It has many free amino acids, which encourage insulin absorption.

4 Fenugreek Seeds For Increasing Milk Production In Lactating Women
Methi seeds are regarded as beneficial for improving milk production. While there is no scientific evidence to support this claim, many women claim they have seen their production increase. Breast-feeding women are known to use it to improve milk flow.

How To Consume Fenugreek Seeds
To treat dysmenorrhea, you need to consume around 1800mg to 2700mg. You can consume it in the powder form. You will have to do this three times a day during the first three days of your menstrual period.

For the remaining two days of your menstrual period, you will have to take around 900mg of fenugreek seed powder daily. In fact, this is a natural substitute for pain killers as well.

Fenugreek Seeds For Digestive Problems
It is taken by mouth for myriad digestive problems such as loss of appetite, constipation, upset stomach, inflammation of the stomach, and gastritis.

Fenugreek Seed For PCOS
The seeds can help treat Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS as well. Women with PCOS will observe that the insulin that is produced by the pancreas is not efficiently used by the body. This, in turn, leads to the abnormal production of testosterone and obesity. Fenugreek seeds, as well as the leaves, can help the body maintain normal levels of insulin.

In Conclusion
In conclusion, let us answer the big question – Do fenugreek seeds really help in weight loss? The answer is yes, fenugreek seed, to an extent, can help with weight loss. It can reduce fat accumulation. It can also suppress your appetite, which in turn can cause you to lose weight.

Scientific studies have also proven that fenugreek seeds or methi seeds can help lower your blood sugar levels and increase your sensitivity to insulin. All of these factors are in favour of the ability of fenugreek seeds to promote weight loss.