TestoFuel Blog : Make Gains & Pack on the Muscle
Not only does the food you eat effect your body, it affects your mind too. It’s the best way to give yourself the best physical and mental boost.
Even on a cellular levels, nutrients fight to keep you looking young, functioning optimally and remaining illness free.
In this article we’ll talk about fenugreek – a sweet and spicy herb used in eastern cuisine.
How does it help to improve female health, performance and confidence?
Find out here…
Fenugreek is a herb that originated in the Near East and grows readily in Arabic regions, India and the Mediterranean.
It is an annual plant characterized by its vibrant, yellow colored leaves that have three separate obovate leaves. The plant has a thin, green stalk and grows to around 6 inches tall.
Fenugreek is commonly used as a herb or spice in cooking and is well known for its spicy and distinctively sweet aroma – very similar to maple syrup or burned sugar. You’ll find it in a variety of dishes from Indian and Turkish, to Ethiopian and Persian cuisine.
Not only does this nutrient enhance the taste and aroma of Mediterranean and Eastern meals, it’s healthy too.
Fenugreek leaves are low in calories at around 50 kcal per 100 grams. They provide a modest amount of carbohydrate and protein, minimal fatty acids and are mostly water.
The seeds provide you with much more nutrition and a higher energy value of 323 kcal per 100 g. The seeds are high in protein and dietary fiber and have a strong bioactive micronutrient profile that helps to optimize health [1].
They contain the following compounds:
You’ll also find high levels of the hormone optimizing nutrients magnesium and vitamin B6, as well as calcium and vitamin C. Fenugreek also provides you with well over your RDA for the essential mineral iron.
With such a strong nutrient profile it’s no surprise that fenugreek can benefit your health.
And many of these benefits are specific to women too, making this eastern herb a high-priority nutrient if you want to optimize vitality and wellness.
Here’s what you need to know.
One of the key triggers for being overweight is cravings for food – particularly high fat and sugary snacks. But by controlling your appetite and reducing hunger you’ll find it much easier to develop womanly curves and a more athletic figure while reducing excess fat.
A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology [2] found that when a group of 39 overweight volunteers were given a fenugreek seed extract supplement over a 6-week period, they significantly reduced their food intake – especially from fat-based foods.
The group also reported a decrease in the ratio between insulin and glucose, showing that the herbal remedy had also helped curb blood sugar too.
When it comes to shredding fat and developing a lean and athletic mid-section, maintain a healthy blood sugar is important. That’s because high blood sugar can lead to a surge in insulin and a reduced ability to burn fat as fuel.
It’s like flicking a switch from fat burning to fat storage mode.
Around 80% of diet-induced diabetics are overweight.
Studies show that when obese volunteers are given a fenugreek fiber extract before breakfast, feelings of fullness went up and hunger reduced. This had an impact on prospective food consumption too as it lowered the calories eaten in the next meal [3].
Regulating blood sugar levels would be particularly useful for a woman during her period when insulin sensitivity goes haywire and cravings for sweet treats and chocolate can be at their peak.
When it comes to hormonal health, more and more women are realizing that testosterone is important for females too.
In fact, optimal testosterone levels are so important that many women are now choosing to use testosterone boosters with fenugreek in them to gradually elevate hormone levels.
Why? Because testosterone brings with it a number of benefits for women:
Studies show that fenugreek has the ability to raise testosterone naturally and safely . For example, one research paper showed that taking a 500 mg per day fenugreek supplement led to fat loss as well as elevated bioavailable testosterone. And this was without any increase in muscle mass [4].
Just in case you’re wondering whether an increase in testosterone might make you bulky or overly-muscular; it won’t. But it will give you an amazingly feminine, athletic body that’ll be the envy of everyone you know.
Fenugreek has long been considered a libido enhancer.
There’s no surprise that women’s natural testosterone levels peak around the time they are ovulating. Why? Because it’s your best chance of conceiving. Your body knows this and does everything it can to raise your libido and get you in the mood.
Many women who suffer with a low sex drive have low testosterone.
Using fenugreek to normalize your hormone levels is the first step to ramping up your libido, confidence and enjoyment in the bedroom.
Research shows that 40% of women suffer from sexual dysfunctions such as reduced arousal, orgasm and general enjoyment. But normalizing hormone levels and bringing testosterone back up to optimal concentrations will soon cure that [5].
Another study found that when 60 volunteers were given a testosterone booster supplement their libido cranked up by nearly 30% [6].
Fenugreek is recommended as a milk flow nutrient or galactagogue.
This is because it has a direct stimulatory effect on breast milk production in nursing mothers, usually increasing production within 24-72 hours of ingesting the seeds or taking a supplement.
One study found that when new mothers consumed the spice as part of a herbal tea, breast milk production increased relative to a placebo tea [7].
And this led to a lower immediate post-weight birth decrease and much better infant weight regain.
With its nutrient packed profile, fenugreek is a must-have food to add to your diet.
And as a woman, it provides specific benefits to boost your health, optimize hormone levels and help you develop a feminine and athletic figure to be proud of.
