Health Benefits of Fenugreek sprouts

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Fenugreek is an herb and spice that is commonly used in Indian cuisine. It adds a unique flavor to the dishes, with its mild spiciness and slightly nutty taste, and has numerous health benefits. Since ancient times, fenugreek has been in use as an alternative in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to treat various diseases and skin conditions. In the eastern culture is common knowledge to give mothers who cannot provide sufficient milk to give fenugreek tea and even eat sprouts regularly to increase milk production. Below are some recent studies from the western medical and health benefits of fenugreek. 

Health Benefits of Fenugreek:

Effects on Breastmilk Production:

Breastmilk is akin to a panacea for the baby, the purest source of nutrients for him/her. But in some mothers, the production of breastmilk is low. Research has shown that fenugreek is a safe, natural alternative to the medication used to boost breastmilk production.

A study conducted on 77 new mothers found that drinking herbal tea, infused with fenugreek seeds increased breast milk production. Another study showed that in mothers who drank herbal tea with fenugreek seeds, the volume of breast milk pumped increased to 2.47 ounces compared to 1.15 ounces in those who did not consume fenugreek tea.

(Note: though these studies show promising results in the use of fenugreek seeds in increasing breastmilk production, you should discuss any concerns about breastmilk production with your midwife or medical practitioner). 

Other Health Benefits of Fenugreek:

Some studies have found that it has beneficial effects, including increased libido.

In an 8-week study, 30 college men performed four weightlifting sessions per week, with half of them receiving 500 mg of fenugreek per day. Although the non-supplement group experienced a slight decline in testosterone, the fenugreek group showed an increase. This group also had a 2% reduction in body fat. 

One 6-week study provided 30 men with 600 mg of fenugreek extract to assess changes in sexual function and libido. Most participants reported increased strength and improved sexual function. 

Moreover, fenugreek is also known to help control blood sugar levels and helps with weight loss as it lowers the appetite.

Fenugreek tea, as the studies above show, is as nutritious as fenugreek. To make fenugreek tea, soak fenugreek seeds in water for five to six hours and then drain the water to make tea with agave or maple syrup and soy or almond milk. For a non-vegan variant, you can substitute soy milk for cow or goat milk.

Print Recipe

Sprouted Fenugreek

Snack – Dadaji Fusion Recipes

By Dadaji – Serves: 4

Prep Time: 6 hours – Cooking Time: 30 mins – Total Time: 6 hour 30 mins

Sprouted Fenugreek seeds are a great addition to any dish adding more nutritional value to the overall food.

Ingredients

• 1 cup fenugreek seeds
• 2 1/2 cups of water

Instructions

1

Soak fenugreek seeds in water for 4 to 6 hours

2

After 4 hours or more, when the seeds have doubled in size, strain the water out with the help of a sieve. (Do not discard the water. It is full of nutrients and can be used to make fenugreek tea.)

3

Transfer fenugreek seed into a pot. Cover and keep the pot in a warm place to allow the seeds to sprout for 2 to 3 days

4

Rinse the seeds/sprouts once daily with water.

5

Once sprouted, transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate. If you have sprouted fenugreek ready, you can whip up a healthy salad in a few minutes.