Fenugreek has a history of use as a gastrointestinal remedy and for upper respiratory tract infections as it possesses a mild antiseptic action. However, recent studies have investigated the blood cholesterol and glucose-lowering properties of fenugreek seeds, both in normal subjects and in those with diabetes.
There appears to be some benefit there for athletes in terms of lowering blood sugar responses to meals and improving blood lipid profiles. However, the doses that achieved this effect were in the vicinity of 20-grams a day. That’s 20,000 milligrams!
The fenugreek plant is native to the Mediterranean region. The seeds are somewhat bitter and have a distinctly spicy, curry taste. Consequently, crushed fenugreek seeds have been used for many years to flavor traditional curries. I’m not sure if fenugreek will improve blood glucose and lipid profiles dramatically but I do know that if you follow the research-based prescription of 20 grams a day, you’ll end up smelling like a walking curry house.
