Fenugreek hay: properties and uses in medicine. Useful herb fenugreek hay

What is this plant? What does it look like and where does it grow in Russia?

Trigonella (Trigonella) - so beautifully called the genus of fenugreek among scientists. It includes under 130 species of annual and perennial relatives. Their flowering form is akin to a moth, so this genus belongs to the Motylkov subfamily.

If we simplify the intricacies of botany, then this grass resembles a clover. It is widely used in the cuisine of the peoples of India, the Middle East and Thailand. In Russia, it is cultivated in the south. The main fans of the spice are the inhabitants of the Caucasian region.

The plant grows to a height of almost a meter, and all its parts are suitable for food. For medicinal purposes seeds are used first. In cooking and traditional medicine, two types are used:

• Greek or hay fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). It is he who is often called Shambhala. It is the most popular and valuable for human health.
• Blue fenugreek (Trigonella caerulea). A rarer, but also well-studied species, the aerial green part is especially valued.

Look: quite nice and edible even in appearance.

Fenugreek or Shambhala: a photo of how it grows and blooms

Raw leaves are put into salads, and dried and crushed become a fragrance in cooking. The ground seeds are used as a spice.

Helba smells and tastes like maple syrup. The reason for this similarity is a natural flavor called "sotolon". There is so much of this substance in the grass that the smell can be transferred to breast milk and even urine and sweat.

Some maple syrup producers in Canada and the United States use fenugreek pomace ( English. fenugreek) or synthetic sotolon. So they bring the defective product to the standard. If you pick up maple syrup and see sotolon or fenugreek listed, put the bottle back on the shelf.

What substances valuable to humans does helba contain?

Chemical composition

In 1 tablespoon (11 grams) of seeds, you can find:

• Proteins, g - 2.5 - 5%
• Fats - 0.7 g - 1%
• Carbohydrates - 6.4 g - 2%
• Dietary fiber, g - 2.7 g - 11%

vitamins

• Vitamin B 6, mg - 3%
• Vitamins B 1, B 2, B 9 - 2% each
• Vitamin C - 1%

Minerals

• Iron, mg - 20%
• Manganese, mg - 7%
• Copper, mg - 6%
• Magnesium, mg - 5%
• Phosphorus, mg - 3%
• Zinc, potassium - 2%
• Selenium - 1%

As a percentage (in%), the share of the average daily requirement for an adult is indicated.

As you can see, the product does not delight at a cursory glance. Yes, protein and fiber are a plus, but the composition of vitamins and minerals is not grandiose. Even iron can be questionable. Traditional dietetics claims that it is absorbed much worse from plant sources than from animal sources.

And yet the helba has great healing potential. Fenugreek seeds and extract are rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, phytoestrogen (diosgenin) and other steroidal saponins. () There is valuable choline (vitamin B4), essential and fatty oils.

Thanks to the listed compounds, the seeds have a systemic effect on the body.

Beneficial features

Supports sexual stamina and increases libido in men. This property of Helba was well known in antiquity. That is why in the West the plant is called fenugreek - Greek grass. The hero of the review is notable for the fact that it practically does not affect the level of the male sex hormone - testosterone. Therefore, the remedy will not add aggressive moods to a man. ()

Strengthens (in some cases - twice) the separation of milk in women during lactation. ()

Normalizes blood sugar levels. Another plant to try for diabetes in addition to diet and treatment from an endocrinologist. ()

Helps with painful periods and relieves the negative symptoms of menopause, which is important for all women.

Improves digestion like most seeds and bran. Helba can be used for constipation, choosing a dose according to well-being.

Seasoning should be excluded from the diet if there are disorders in the thyroid gland, elevated level estrogen and prolactin.

May cause an allergic reaction. Nasal congestion, coughing, itching, redness of the mucous membranes will appear. If you can't stand contact with peanuts and chickpeas, treat fenugreek with extreme caution. ()

In some cases, tea, and especially seeds, provokes flatulence and loosening of the stool.

The product multiplies the effect of anticoagulants and blood-thinning drugs. Enhances the effect of diabetes medications. If you are taking such medications, be sure to consult your doctor before including Shambhala supplements in your diet. ()

How to drink: doses, forms, recipes

The dosage of helba depends on the purpose of the reception. We have met with American doctors who give favorable reviews for fenugreek different variants reception.

Below is a list of the best solutions.

Where "mg" is indicated is about dietary supplements, capsules with extract from vegetable raw materials, which can be bought on iherb or in a pharmacy.

• For women, to increase lactation: 500-1000 mg per day. Some women prefer to make tea. See below for a simple recipe.
• In diabetes: freshly ground seeds with food daily - 2-5 grams. Or 500 mg of the extract twice a day.
• For painful periods: long courses of 1800-2700 mg of the substance three times a day on the first three days of the cycle and 900 mg three times a day daily for two complete cycles.
• For athletes: 500 mg of the drug in one dose or 300 mg, 2 times a day. Note that according to the latest data on growth muscle mass fenugreek has no effect. Its main action during active training is an adaptogen.
• For men, as an aphrodisiac: 600 mg per day.
• For weight loss: ground seeds 1/3 teaspoon to the main meals (3 times a day). Or tea in the morning and evening: 1 tbsp. spoon for 1 cup of boiling water.

Application in cooking

If you decide to use fenugreek as a seasoning, you can buy whole seeds in the market, on the Internet or in a pharmacy.

It is delicious to add ground grains to the following products: all cereals, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, beets, salads with cabbage. For our taste, salads especially benefit from such a neighborhood. They seem to be getting richer.

By the way, young shamballa seeds are found in the popular Georgian hop-suneli mixture and in Indian curries. And the famous Armenian spice chaman(this is another synonym for helba) also includes ground coriander, cumin and a mixture of peppers. It is especially good with meat.

Dried blue fenugreek leaves are used to prepare utskho-suneli - another Caucasian spice. It is distinguished by a refreshing aroma, and the quality indicator in the mix is ​​the abundance of the leaves of our hero.

Quite exotic, albeit from the west, and not from the east - green cheese with fenugreek from the Alpine region. You will hardly forget the bright aroma and spicy taste, even if you tried it only once.

You can find such seasonings in large markets, in elite grocery boutiques, and online stores.

The famous fenugreek tea

Making a drink is easy. In order for the seeds to reveal the taste in its entirety, they are washed, dried and fried.

By the way, the famous Egyptian yellow tea is made from Helba seeds. It is boiled in a Turk for 5-9 minutes: 1 tbsp. 350 ml spoon cold water. A beautiful amber color and a great base for experiments. You can add fresh ginger - just pour the shavings directly into the cup.

And if you dilute tea with citrus juice, add cranberries, currants, you will get a folk remedy for the treatment of colds.

There are also interesting recipes in cosmetology, for example, for hair growth and strengthening.

We have tried to ensure that you do not have any questions about fenugreek. Its beneficial properties and contraindications have been fully studied in order to clearly understand the place of the plant in nutrition and health improvement. Share your recipes in the comments! We love natural spices and are open to new flavor ideas.

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Syn.: Greek fenugreek, shambhala, fenugreek, fenugrik, helba, hilbe, chaman, abish, etc.

annual herbaceous plant of the legume family, all parts of which have a strong characteristic odor due to the presence of coumarin. Fenugreek is used in cooking, folk medicine, herbal medicine and cosmetics.

Ask the experts

flower formula

In medicine

Fenugreek is not included in the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation and is not used by official medicine.

However, fenugreek seeds are included in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (BTF), are used in Chinese, Indian and Western European medicine, and are also actively used in folk medicine in many countries.

In China, several centuries ago, fenugreek was used for men as a powerful aphrodisiac. Currently, fenugreek has been found to contain a useful mucous substance, which is used in the production of bactericidal patches.

Contraindications and side effects

Fenugreek is not toxic, but it contains a large amount of steroids. Therefore, the plant is contraindicated in children, pregnant and lactating women. Fenugreek increases uterine contractions, which can lead to bleeding. Therefore, before you start taking fenugreek, it is better to consult a doctor.

In cooking

Fenugreek seeds are firmly established in Indian and Armenian cuisine. Fenugreek fields in India occupy more than 40,000 hectares, where up to 20,000 tons of this plant are grown annually! Indians use the tender stems and leaves of fenugreek as food. And brownish-beige flat seeds are indispensable in many vegetable dishes and snacks.

In Armenian cuisine, fenugreek seeds are also very often used, they call it “chaman” there. Due to its nutty flavor, lightly toasted fenugreek seeds have been substituted for hazelnuts in some vegetable dishes.

Fenugreek seeds are also used in making cheese. In addition, in basturma, the seeds of the plant are the basis for the dish.

The dried seeds of the plant are commonly used as a spice. The taste and aroma of fenugreek is specific, strong and nut-mushroom. Fenugreek seeds have a bitter taste, so you must follow the dosage of the recipe and be very careful when roasting them - the color of the seeds should remain light brown, and if the seeds turn red when roasted, the dish may become bitter.

Hay fenugreek is an important ingredient in spicy mixtures "curry", as well as seasonings "hops-suneli". The composition of this plant includes a substance called "haloctomannan" or "fenugreek gum". Currently, this substance is well known as food additive E 417.

In Egypt and Ethiopia, fenugreek is a common component of bread, which the Arabs call "khulba", and the people of Ethiopia - "abish". In Greece, raw or boiled fenugreek seeds are eaten with honey, and in the United States, fenugreek is added to hot sauces, snacks, and various spicy sandwich mixes. The plant is rich in protein and iron, so it is often used by vegetarians.

In Egypt, “yellow tea” called Helba is made from fenugreek. To prepare this tea, fenugreek seeds are washed and brewed like regular tea. You can improve the taste of tea with milk, lemon, ginger or honey to taste.

In cosmetology

Beauties in Java use fenugreek to make a balm that improves hair growth.

In horticulture

Fenugreek hay was cultivated back in time Ancient Greece and Rome. In the wild, fenugreek can be found in the mountainous regions of Turkey, Iran and Iraq.

Fenugreek is an early maturing, drought and cold tolerant plant. Grows best on loose and cultivated fertile soil. Fenugreek is harmful to acidification of the soil, so when lime is added to the soil, the yield can double. The plant does not like windy places. Light also affects fenugreek growth and yields: the more light, the better the yield.

The plant is grown from seeds. They are sown in spring, from April to May, in prepared soil. The distance between plants should be at least 7 cm. Seeds germinate already at 10 degrees Celsius, but it is better if the temperature is plus 20 - 25 degrees.

With a thickened planting, fenugreek is thinned out in the state of the first two leaves. Fenugreek usually blooms in June, and the fruits enter the stage of maturity in late summer - early autumn. Before fruit set, fenugreek must be constantly watered. After the appearance of fruits, watering is reduced, and then completely stopped. Weeds are best removed.

Classification

Fenugreek hay, or Greek fenugreek, or Shambhala (lat. Trigonella foenum graecum.) - annual plant. Species of the genus Fenugreek of the legume family (moth subfamily).

Botanical description

The stalks of fenugreek hay are low, straight, loose and branching. Rod root. The leaves on the stems are petiolate, with ovate-oblong leaflets. Fenugreek blooms both in early and mid-summer. The flowers are small, located on short pedicels. The formula of the fenugreek flower is Ch (5) L1 + 2 + (2) T (9) + 1P1. The fruit of fenugreek is a straight or curved bean containing 10 to 20 seeds. The seeds are square or rhombic, the color of the seeds is from light yellow to brown. Fenugreek has a specific nutty flavor.

Spreading

The homeland of fenugreek hay is considered the Eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor. Wild fenugreek grows in Central Asia and in the north of the Alps. Fenugreek is cultivated almost everywhere in Eastern Europe, in Asia, India, China, in African countries (Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Ethiopia), in Latin America(Argentina). In the CIS, fenugreek is grown in the areas of Southern Transcaucasia.

Distribution regions on the map of Russia.

Procurement of raw materials

AT medicinal purposes most commonly used are fenugreek seeds. Fenugreek is cut, then the seeds are threshed, and then dried at a temperature of 40-60°C. The shelf life of such seeds is 3 years, provided proper storage(sealed container, cool air temperature).

Fenugreek herb is also sometimes used. Grass harvesting takes place during the flowering period, the upper parts of the plants are cut off. The grass is then dried under a canopy, avoiding sunlight, or in a ventilated area. Dry fenugreek herb is stored for 2 years.

Chemical composition

Fenugreek seeds contain the following substances: alkaloid trigonelline (0.3%), nicotinic acid (vitamin PP) - 3.5-18 mg%, folic acid, rutin, steroidal saponins and phytosterols (diosgenin, yamogenin, gitogenin, tigogenin and glycosides dioscin and yamoscin), flavonoids, mucous (up to 30%) and bitter substances, essential oils (0.3%), fatty oil (6%), proteins, tannins, vitamins (C, B1, B2), phosphorus, iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, arsenic.

Pharmacological properties

Medicinal raw materials for hay fenugreek are dried seeds, which are used to prepare various preparations - water extracts, tinctures, decoctions, which are used mainly in folk medical practices. Fenugreek seeds contain nicotinic acid and coumarin, which reduce blood sugar levels, which is useful for diabetes.

Application in traditional medicine

Fenugreek has a wide range of uses because it has strong anti-inflammatory, soothing, and wound healing properties. Fenugreek is an excellent remedy for people weakened after an illness and recovering, especially for diseases of the nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems. In large quantities, fenugreek acts as a stimulant that promotes the onset of menstruation. Fenugreek causes influx breast milk if you take an aqueous infusion of the plant, but a milk decoction is even more effective.

Douching with a strong infusion of fenugreek seeds has been successfully used in the treatment of leucorrhoea.

Oriental women use the seeds after childbirth to recuperate and increase breast milk flow, and they also eat roasted seeds to round out their breasts and hips, as rounded shapes are known to be the ideal of beauty in the East.

Fenugreek has been used with great success in the past and is used today to treat premature baldness and promote hair growth.
Fenugreek seed paste can be applied to boils, ulcers and poorly healing wounds, as the plant contains a lot of plant mucus and adhesives. Applying this mucus to a wound is good for soothing irritated and inflamed tissues. It works in the same way when taken orally. Crushed fenugreek seeds also help heal burns and wounds.

In folk medicine, fenugreek seeds are used as a tonic and carminative. Fenugreek is used for tuberculosis, it has a good effect on appetite, stops the process of weight loss.

Fenugreek seed powder has insecticidal properties.

In combination with valerian, fenugreek strengthens the nerves well.

History reference

The inhabitants of Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt consumed hay fenugreek as a vegetable. Indian Brahmins used fenugreek leaves several centuries ago in their magical sessions. The leaves of this plant are even described in the famous herbalist "Aliad Ansata", as well as in the ancient Indian manuscript "On the properties of objects assigned to witchcraft."

Even in the ancient Egyptian papyri, the treatment of burns with the help of fenugreek was described, as well as the stimulation of childbirth. Roman gladiators, preparing for battle, increased their vitality by consuming fenugreek seeds.

The name of the plant comes from the ancient Russian word "pazhit" - a pasture for cattle. This plant was used as feed for domestic cattle in ancient Greece and Rome. Therefore, fenugreek was also called Greek hay (literally in Latin - “foenum-graecum”).

Literature

1. Dudchenko L. G., Kozyakov A. S., Krivenko V. V. Spicy-aromatic and spicy-tasting plants: a Handbook / Ed. ed. K. M. Sytnik. - K.: Naukova Dumka, 1989. - 304 p. - 100,000 copies. - ISBN 5-12-000483-0.

Fenugreek has such Latin name- Trigonella foenum-graecum. Often it is also called like this: methi, Greek fenugreek, shamballa, fenugreek, helba, gunba, hilba, camel grass.

Description

Fenugreek is an annual herbaceous plant that smells like the legume family (Fabaceae). It has a strong tap root and an upright, round and ascending stem, which is located in the upper part.
The leaves of the plant are trifoliate, they consist of ovoid leaves that have small teeth along the edges. Fenugreek leaves are somewhat similar to clover leaves. They are sessile, moth-like, and arranged singly. Some of them occur in the axils of the leaves, they have a yellowish-white or yellow tint. Helba or hay blooms in June, and fruits ripen at the end of summer.
The fruits of the plant are saber-shaped, they can be up to 10 cm in length. The fruits are slightly drooping, they may contain 5-20 seeds. rectangular shape. As they mature, they turn brown. The homeland of such a plant is considered to be the Mediterranean and Iraq.
On the territory of the CIS, oriental methi is grown as a fodder plant, as well as for medicinal purposes. It is used to obtain essential oils. This type unpretentious in cultivation, it grows on moderately fertile soil in the sun or in the shade. Seeds can be planted in spring or winter.

Features of the collection and procurement of raw materials

For medicinal purposes, the seeds or herb of fenugreek are most often used. They are harvested when most of the fruits are ripe. Wild grass is mowed, threshed, and the seeds are separated from impurities and dried in special dryers. The temperature in them should reach 40-60 degrees. Seed shelf life this plant is 3 years.
Grass harvesting is carried out in June. At the same time, only the upper parts of the plant are cut off, after which they are dried under a canopy or in a well-ventilated room. Grass can be stored for no more than two years.

Compound

Fenugreek seeds contain mucous substances, as well as fats, proteins, saponins, rutin and choline. The plant also contains the alkaloid trigonelin, nicotinic acid, sterols, flavonoids, essential oil and bitter substances.

Application, treatment and beneficial properties

Fenugreek hay has anti-inflammatory, sedative, expectorant and antispasmodic effects. It also has lactogenic properties. Preparations that have fenugreek in their composition stimulate the work of the heart, and also contribute to the removal of toxic substances through the lymphatic system. They also thin the mucus in the bronchi in an excellent way, lower the level of sugar and cholesterol in the blood. They also perfectly inhibit the growth and development of harmful bacteria.
Fenugreek seeds are great for people who are underweight, have a poor appetite, and also for those who have had to go through a complex operation. Their properties help girls with painful menstruation, as well as sexual disorders.
In folk medicine, Greek Shamballa seeds are used to treat chronic coughs, as well as to increase lactation. A useful medicinal herb infusion will help get rid of stomach cramps. As for external use, it is used for phlegmon, eczema, furunculosis and purulent diseases of the lower leg.

Doses and Forms

• Decoction of fenugreek seeds. The seeds are crushed, then poured with water and brought to a boil. The decoction is infused for about 20 minutes, and you need to take it half a glass 4 times a day.
• Herb setting. A tablespoon is poured with boiling water and infused for 30 minutes, after which it is filtered. Take this infusion 3 times a day for painful menstruation and severe cramps.
• Outdoor application. The crushed seed is mixed with a small amount of water to make a pulp. It is boiled for 10 minutes, and then removed from the heat. The gruel is applied to the tissue and applied to the sore spot. These dressings should be changed 3 times a day.

Fenugreek, which is already cultivated in many countries as cultivated plant, has several different names: fenugreek, chaman, shamballa, camel grass, Greek hay. It has long been used not only to strengthen the human body, but also used as a remedy for raising animals “on their feet”.

But what is the secret that keeps beneficial features fenugreek seed, let's try to figure it out.

Features of the chemical and biological composition

The enzymes that make up their composition help improve appetite, normalize the functioning of internal organs, and regular, but not excessive use strengthens the body and prevents the formation of cancer.

The plant is rich in many useful components and essential amino acids, which are necessary for the full development of the human body and maintaining a healthy balance.

Useful and medicinal properties

The use of fenugreek seeds is quite diverse. Its regenerating and strengthening effect on the body due to its healing properties helps to fight many malfunctions in the body:

1. Plant nutrients help fight physical exhaustion and anorexia.
2. With colds and viral manifestations, inflammation of the lungs, it is used as an adjuvant for an expectorant, fever-reducing, diaphoretic effect.
3. Regular use helps to restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract:

• activates the secretion of the digestive glands;
• stimulates appetite;
• eliminates heartburn;
• normalizes intestinal peristalsis.

Fenugreek also showed a beneficial effect on the blood formation system, which is facilitated by the B group of vitamins, and the antioxidants contained in the plant, due to which:

Sprouts of any grain are a storehouse of valuable substances, the amount of which is much higher than in seeds alone. Fenugreek beans are no exception. By eating them, the functions of the liver are restored, the body is cleansed of toxins, and the work of the gastrointestinal tract is improved. It is useful to use them for ulcerative and infectious diseases of the stomach. Sprouts strengthen nervous system and improve its functioning.

How to germinate

1. The seeds are well washed, soaked overnight (8 - 12 hours), for this, warm boiled water is used.
2. After draining the water, put the beans in a jar and rinse 2-3 times with cool water. Seeds do not fill, they should be just wet.
3. Sprouts will appear within 5 days. Store in the refrigerator, but no more than 2 days.

How to use

The best size of sprouts - their length is equal to the size of the seeds, longer ones begin to taste bitter. Take them for 1 tsp. per day, maximum 10 minutes before meals. Or use as an additive to salads or cereals.

Some traditional medicine recipes

Cold remedy

Egyptian yellow tea raw, in glass cup and pot Medicinal properties fenugreek seeds in most cases are due to the antibacterial action, which fights viruses and microbes that affect the body during colds. For treatment, it is necessary to make the following decoction:

1. You need 2 tsp. seed pour boiled water(1 cup), and put on a slow fire for 15 minutes.
2. Take during the day 4 times. This decoction can also be used for severe coughs.

1. You need 2 tbsp. l. seed powder, pour 250 ml of cold water,
2. Infuse for 3 hours, then bring to a boil, strain immediately.
3. Take it warm.

To treat cough, it is better to add honey to tea. And diluting it half with water, they make baths for hands and feet - this reduces their sweating.

Compress for external use

1. With a slide 1 tbsp. l. flour from the seeds of fenugreek hay pour a glass of water and cook over low heat until a slurry is formed, it should not be very thick.
2. The resulting mass is decomposed into a bandage or fabric folded in several layers, applied to a sore spot.

Treatment of exhaustion

With a top of 2 g of seed powder, mix with a small amount of liquid (juice, water, tea) and take 3 times a day.

Infusion

1. 50 g of ground fenugreek seeds should be poured into ½ liter of boiling water.
2. Mix well and wrap.
3. Strain after an hour.
4. Take on the days between menstruation, 50 ml.

This infusion can be used for douching with non-communicable diseases.

Paste

In this form, fenugreek is used externally not only to treat skin lesions, but also for cosmetic purposes. There are three ways to prepare pasta:

1. Seeds (well dried) are ground in a coffee grinder and diluted with water to a mushy consistency.
2. Whole seeds are soaked overnight, and then rubbed until smooth.
3. Use filtered residues after infusions, decoctions and tea.

The paste is used in its pure form, or with the addition of various components: honey, oils, with lemon or cucumber juices, aloe juice will complement the product well.

Help with low lactation

1. With top 2 tsp. seeds are poured with a glass of water, and boiled for 7 - 8 minutes.
2. Strain and take 2-3 times a day.
3. Before boiling, the seeds can be soaked for a couple of hours.

It is important when taking such a remedy not to exceed the norm. Long-term use and large portions can cause bloating, an allergic reaction, and a specific skin odor may occur.

Use in cooking

Fenugreek is used as an additive in cooking different dishes. In this case, both seeds (dry or germinated) and fresh herbs a plant that is added to first courses, such as vegetable or mushroom soup, serve as an additive to sauces and gravies, complement salads.

The seed powder is used as a spice. Ground seeds are included in such popular seasonings as hops-suneli, curry. Adjika, seasoned with fenugreek powder, acquires a special taste.

Potatoes with fenugreek

Ingredients

1. 0.5 kg of potatoes;
2. uk - 1 pc. medium size;
3. butter for frying;
4. salt, pepper to taste;
5. some fenugreek powder.

Cooking

1. Peel potatoes, put to boil.
2. During this time, finely chop the onion, fry in oil.
3. A minute before putting the potatoes in the pan, add spices to the onions. And then, after a short interval, add fenugreek.
4. Drain the water from the potatoes and transfer to the onions.
5. Fry over low heat.
6. Put the finished dish on plates and decorate with herbs.

Lentil soup

Ingredients

• red lentils - 1 tbsp.;
• water - 3 tbsp.;
• tomatoes - 3 pcs.;
• onion - 1 pc.;
• garlic - 2 teeth;
• turmeric - 1 tsp;
• lavrushka - 1 leaf;
• lemon juice - 2 tbsp. l.;
• cumin - ½ tsp ;
• mustard - ½ tsp;
• dill and parsley - a small bunch (gram 20);
• fenugreek - ½ tsp;
• sesame - ½ tsp;
• salt to taste.

Cooking

1. Pour the washed lentils with water, bring to a boil. Then cook on low heat for 10 minutes.
2. Make small cuts in the tomatoes, blanch in boiling water for one minute, then put them under cold water. Peel off the skin, beat with a blender.
3. Chop the onion and garlic. Fry in a pan: first onion, when it becomes transparent, add garlic and spices. Keep on fire for another 3 minutes (not forgetting to stir).
4. In a pot with lentils, add the finished frying, bay leaf. Salt.
5. Keep on fire for another 5 minutes.
6. Add tomatoes and lemon juice. Boil another 5 minutes
7. Pour the finished dish into portions and decorate with herbs.

Contraindications

Like most traditional medicine, fenugreek has its own contraindications:

Reception of the fruits of the plant in any form is excluded during pregnancy, as it can provoke uterine contractions.

For problems with blood clotting and insulin-dependent people, you can take the drug only with the permission of your doctor.

Abuse can lead to nausea and headaches, and in women, due to the hormonal enzymes contained in the plant, menstrual irregularities can be triggered.

Before you start taking, women need to be sure that the level of estrogen and prolactin does not exceed the norm.

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A plant such as fenugreek has been known to people since ancient times. Back in ancient India, China, and from there to Arab countries the seeds of the plant were often used to make teas, the ground powder was used to season food, and the green mass was excellent for livestock feed. For a long time of using the plant, a person empirically realized that fenugreek has beneficial properties and contraindications. It is known that seeds help to achieve positive dynamics in the treatment of many diseases, including serious ones. They contain many vitamins and beneficial trace elements. Their concentration is so high that contraindications to excessive consumption of spices in food follow from this. Frequent use may well provoke a rapid depletion of the body.

Today, fenugreek in any form can be easily found in stores. It is not even necessary to find specialized shops with spices. Sometimes the seasoning affordable price sold in regular supermarkets.

Actually, it's quite unpretentious appearance. It is an annual grass that does not stand out at all in a flowering meadow. In height, the stems barely reach half a meter, and the flowers look rather inconspicuous and do not attract the eye at all. The plant belongs to the legume family.

Historically found in wild nature and is widely known since ancient times to people inhabiting China, India, Egypt. You can meet wild specimens in the Caucasus, Georgia and Armenia.

By the way, the grass adapts well to the conditions middle lane Russia. She is very patient with temperature changes, so growing a full-fledged specimen on her personal plot won't be a big deal. And in winter, it will turn out to please loved ones with familiar dishes, in which a new, unique aroma of the original and rather rarely used spice will appear.

The most common and well-known types are:

1. Blue fenugreek. The plant itself is very similar to clover. It got its name because of the flowers, which are distinguished by a pale blue tint. After processing, it turns out a seasoning that stands out with a very mild, subtle and fresh taste of mushrooms. Finding this species in the wild is quite problematic;
2. Fenugreek hay (also known as Greek). The plant does not stand out from many meadow species. The flowers are pale white, and the resulting food supplement is known for its pungent taste. By the way, in Egypt this species is called helba, in Armenia - chaman, in India - methi. This type of spice is very popular and grows in the wild almost throughout China, even on the American continent. After the fruits are harvested, the grass is fed to livestock.

Since the species has been known for a long time, different places different names have taken root behind it. In addition to helba, chaman and methi, the same plant is also called shambhala, fenugreek, camel grass or Greek hay.

The seeds of the plant ripen in pods, very similar in shape and color to beans. They fit from ten to twenty yellowish beans. When raw, they taste like celery. However, after drying, the taste tones change, soft aromas of mushrooms appear in them. Dried seeds are very tasty, but after roasting, the spice acquires an even more wonderful flavor.

Chemical composition and nutritional value

The plant is very rich in natural compounds and vitamins, which, of course, with normal consumption, will benefit the body and help improve health:

1. First of all, the seeds include vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B4, B9, C, PP in high concentration.
2. Tigonin, trillin, diosgennin - chemical elements, useful for cleansing the blood and especially good for the heart muscle.
3. Essential oils, mucous and bitter substances.
4. Dietary fibre, fibre. It helps to start the natural processes of collagen restoration, wrinkle tightening, adds healthy skin appearance, rejuvenates the face, providing a therapeutic effect.

But these are not all micro and macro elements that positively affect the human condition. The seeds contain useful substances such as iron (up to 20% of the daily value is present in one tablespoon), manganese (7%), copper (6%), magnesium (5%), vitamin B6 and phosphorus (3% each). ).

If there are those who count calories and monitor the food consumed and energy value products, then for convenience we can say that one tablespoon of fenugreek contains about 35.5 kilocalories. This volume contains 4 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of proteins and 7 grams of fat and vegetable fiber.

How to apply

In most cases, fenugreek is consumed both as a powder and brewed in teas. Rich chemical composition, concentration a large number vitamins allows spices to serve as an effective prevention of many viral diseases and for the treatment of chronic ailments.

Useful and medicinal properties

Since ancient times, people have noticed that the plant has a beneficial effect on the human condition. Of course, at that time there was no way to understand why this was happening. Just by many years of observation, our ancestors developed their own recipes for preparing herbs to treat certain ailments. Or they simply drank teas based on the plant to improve well-being, to tone up.

Most often, the spice was used by women. It was believed that the seeds have a beneficial effect on women, increase the mammary glands, improve the secretion of milk, its quality. Now, of course, such a good effect can be explained scientifically. So, fenugreek is rich in the content of substances that are phytoestrogen for female body. That is, it stimulates increased production of a special hormone, prolactin, which contributes to better job mammary glands.

But in ancient times, not only women, but also men used grass. The Chinese, for example, noticed that regular use of spices helps to increase sexual activity, strengthen the potency of the strong half of humanity.

Also, the grass was used not only to help in intimate matters. She suffers from many other diseases. Why is this nondescript, at first glance, the plant helps our body so much? Firstly, this is achieved due to the vitamins, of which it really has a lot in its composition. This contributes more effective work the entire immune system. Secondly, good combination in one spice of such active ingredients as steroid glycosides, phenolic acids, coumarins and many others, it helps to naturally cleanse itself of toxins, makes the organs work much better.

1. First of all, if you eat grass seeds, you can be sure that your blood sugar level will decrease and gradually return to normal levels. Yes, excess cholesterol is “washed out” of the blood. If you do not take care of the purity of the blood, then this is fraught with big problems with age, such as strokes. Therefore, spice from time to time should be included in the diet. At least in the form of light certified teas.
2. Fenugreek triggers the natural reproduction of collagen fibrils. All this helps to improve the appearance, condition of the skin on the face, hands. Reduces the effect of chapped hands in winter.
3. Seeds increase immune resistance to viruses.
4. The plant has a beneficial effect on human mucous tissues. It helps small sores heal faster, provides good hydration. A healthy shine appears in the eyes, the gums hurt less. In addition to mucous membranes, the mechanism of tissue regeneration begins to work better throughout the body. Cuts, abrasions, bruises heal much faster.
5. Yes, finally, the spice has a good effect, first of all, on the intestines and on the entire gastrointestinal tract. It helps to remove harmful substances from the liver, stimulates the release of bile from the gallbladder. Regular use effectively helps cleanse both digestive system as well as blood vessels.

Prevention of diseases of the heart and blood vessels

Few people know, but the biggest danger associated with diseases of the heart and blood vessels is not even associated with the amount of cholesterol (although, of course, its excessive concentration is also bad), but with inflammation of the circulatory system, which turns into a chronic state. And the remarkable property of the spice is to reduce the inflammatory processes of internal organs.
If you go into details, then a high concentration of polysaccharides in the seeds (a lot of tannins, pectin, saponin) has a special effect on blood purification.

Note! Science has proven that the seeds of the plant affect the rapid purification of the blood and the improvement of the entire circulatory system in several steps at once.

Firstly, the substances contained in the spice cause the intestines to process the fats that come with food less. The digestive system begins to work in a slightly different mode, after which less harmful cholesterol is sent to the blood. But that's not all.

Secondly, it turns out that special fatty acids are produced in the same intestine due to seasoning. Thanks to natural processes they enter the bloodstream and are carried to the liver. These acids act on the liver in such a way that the body reduces the process of cholesterol synthesis.

Thus, the blood is less “polluted”, the general tone rises, the state of constant fatigue passes, the body becomes more resilient.

Approximation of blood sugar levels to normal levels

Today, doctors often advise adding seasoning to food, brewing teas as often as possible for those who have either already been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, or there is a high predisposition to the disease. First of all, people who suffer from obesity are at risk. Obviously, glucose in overweight people is present in the blood in high doses.

A positive effect on the course of the disease, lowering blood glucose is achieved due to the special fiber, which is rich in spice. The substance during digestion has a beneficial effect on the intestines, helps the body process less sugars with incoming food. This means that seasoning seeds added to food or drinking tea will help prevent blood sugar levels from skyrocketing.

Great aid to the digestive system

Again, the key role here is played by special vegetable fiber, which the product is rich in. As mentioned earlier, it has a beneficial effect on the state of the blood, liver, and heart. But all this is achieved due to the fact that, first of all, the work of the intestine improves.

There are many observations, folk recipes that describe the preparation of herbal solutions and mixtures for the treatment of constipation. In general, the use of seasoning will help to quickly bring the stool back to normal.

Attention! The spice is often prescribed for ulcerative colitis. Indeed, its regular use will help relieve inflammation of the digestive tract.

Relieve symptoms of chronic inflammation

It is worth noting here that again, fenugreek relieves the symptoms of chronic inflammation in all systems and organs of the body due to fiber, which affects the functioning of the intestines. Yes, in fact, many ailments begin with disruptions in the functioning of our intestines, because it has a huge impact on the state of the entire immune system.

But it is precisely for the neutralization of inflammation in the systems of the human body that antioxidants are responsible, which spices have in sufficient quantities.

It is known that in ancient times, the seeds of the plant were very often used in the treatment of all types of inflammation of the skin, to get rid of diseases of the oral cavity. The grass was collected, dried, stocked up in sufficient quantities to prevent infectious diseases in winter.

Some sources even say that the seasoning had a beneficial effect on patients with serious ailments: for example, tuberculosis. Today, the wonderful properties of the plant are widely used for the prevention and treatment of colds.

Medicinal properties of herbs for women

First of all, seasonings were used to secrete milk from lactating women. In addition, the quality of milk improved.
But other positive properties of the seasoning are known. Due to the high content of choline in the plant, in women, the menstrual cycle is evened out, the pain of PMS is relieved. Among other things, the herb will help with menopause and menopause.

Healing properties of Shambhala for men

If we continue talking about the intimate sphere, then most often fenugreek was used to increase sexual desire in the East. There he is better known as Shambhala. Therefore, in many recipes, it is this name of the herb that appears.
Indeed, since ancient times, men have been eating spice seeds to increase sexual activity. Shambhala helped to increase potency, increased endurance.

This effect was achieved due to the fact that shamballa is a natural aphrodisiac. Hence and a little advice: you need to know the norm, otherwise increased excitability will put a lot of stress on the nervous and cardiovascular systems, which can lead to the fact that the body cannot withstand the overstrain, a breakdown will occur.

For sports

It is known that spice along with creatine can be used to improve athletic endurance performance. Some athletes use the seeds to build upper body muscles and shed fat faster.

Fenugreek recipes in folk medicine

Immunity improvement

To improve immunity, traditional medicine advises to use sprouted seeds. To do this, seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth, a load is placed on top and left for 3 days. Then the weight is removed, and the seeds are allowed to germinate for a few more days. You can eat sprouts raw (the taste is quite pleasant) or you can process them: make tea, grind and mix with honey.

Recipes for infections

The herb is good for bronchitis, useful for asthmatics. It is also recommended to use plant seeds for ARVI, colds, sore throats. The main effect is the anti-inflammatory property of the spice.

The most popular folk remedy is very easy to prepare. For the mixture, you need about one tablespoon of seeds to pour boiling water. After that, brewed tea is drunk no more than twice a day: in the morning and in the evening.

If the cough is severe or the sore throat is very advanced, then a more serious medicine can be prepared. In the first case, take a tablespoon of seeds, add dates and figs to the mixture. Then pour warm water and boil for about 10 minutes in a water bath. After the medicine has cooled down to room temperature, you can put a teaspoon of honey there. Drink the remedy 2-3 times a day in small sips. It is better to warm up before use.

For the treatment of severe sore throat, 2 tablespoons of seeds are poured with boiling water. Half an hour you need to cook the mixture over low heat. Then strain, let cool, and then use to gargle.

Digestion

With ulcers, gastritis, as well as flatulence, dysentery, a decoction of boiling water and a teaspoon of seeds helps. This tea relieves stomach pain, intestinal spasms, and can also help with urolithiasis.

It is a little more difficult to make a decoction with a teaspoon of aloe and fenugreek mixed together. Here you can also pour a little dill and juniper seeds. Pour boiling water, and then cook in a water bath for 10 minutes. The decoction is drunk in the evening before going to bed. After a 7-day intake, you need to take a short break. Then, if necessary, the procedure is repeated.

Diabetes

Diabetics are advised to prepare such a simple remedy: at night, pour a teaspoon of plant seeds with water at room temperature. In the morning, mix the glass thoroughly and drink the infusion half a glass for two weeks. Another recipe is known when two tablespoons of seeds are crushed and stirred with milk at once. Drink the mixture once a day.

Women's and men's diseases

Men often practice this folk recipe: brew a teaspoon of seeds, then strain, add a little milk with a high fat content (homemade is best). To increase potency, sexual desire, they drink such an infusion twice a day for a whole cup.

Exactly the same decoction, with only one slight difference: you need to brew two teaspoons, it will help improve lactation in women.

Know! A brewed decoction, only without the addition of dairy products, will help women with inflammatory processes in the uterus and vagina.

Skin and hair

Among the people, the grass was used to rejuvenate the skin, restore hair strength. For this, such a simple recipe was most often used: the seeds of the plant soaked in a damp cloth were left overnight, and in the morning the soft seeds were rubbed to a gruel and applied to the skin or hair. After about half an hour, the applied mask was thoroughly washed off. The procedure was repeated 2-3 times a week.

For weight loss

Plant seeds help to lose weight. But, to be quite precise, they rather contribute to the fact that a person acquires a normal weight. It is known that the seasoning is suitable for improving health not only for obese people, but for excessively thin people. It will first normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract, and then the rest of the organs will begin to function in the correct mode:

1. First of all, fenugreek fights bacteria that directly affect excessive weight gain. They live in the intestines, and seasoning seeds help to make the body absorb less harmful fats, process food longer and, as a result, spend more on it. large quantity calories.
2. Increases physical endurance. This is another point that helps to get rid of extra pounds. Sport with the regular purchase of seasoning becomes not a painful, unpleasant activity, but an easy, completely unstressed pastime.
3. Yes, do not forget that the spice relieves anxiety and depression. In fact, a simple spice is able to deal with stress very effectively, while not causing serious harm, as it is an environmentally friendly product.
4. The main cause of diabetes is insulin resistance. It is because of this that sugar exceeds the permissible limits, and a person is gaining overweight. Shambhala also helps to purify the blood, returns the glucose levels in the body to normal.
5. Inflammations of a chronic nature - also often affect the fact that a person grows in size. Again, this spice comes to the rescue, which, due to the antioxidants it contains, helps restore immune defenses and get rid of harmful bacteria.

Such recipes are known that, on the contrary, contribute to an increase in appetite in those people who suffer from a lack of weight. Again, physical endurance improves, and strengthening muscle mass is not only a way to lose weight, that is, "overtake" excess fat into muscles, but build muscle by correcting body weight. In addition, the smell of seasoning triggers mechanisms that increase the desire to eat, give pleasure from the food eaten.

Shambhala in cooking

No wonder that the original taste of the spice is used in the kitchen. The green beans of the plant resemble celery. After roasting, they change their flavors, acquire a bright flavor of mushrooms and nuts.

Most often, seasoning is used to prepare spices, which are flavored with many main dishes. Suneli hops, adjika, curry are just a few seasonings where the plant is present in varying degrees of concentration. Spices go well with fish, meat dishes, are used in side dishes, even salads. They do not spoil the culinary masterpieces at all, but, on the contrary, add special shades of taste and smell to them.

By the way . In the East, shamballa is even included in some types of sweets. I must say that very interesting delicacies are obtained.

Harm and contraindications

In general, the very first rule to follow if you want to include spices in your diet is to consult a doctor. Within reasonable limits, the plant is unlikely to cause serious harm. But very often people consume seasoning more and more, which leads to a serious oversaturation of the body.

It is dangerous for men to get carried away with the spice for a long time, because the concentration of testosterone is gradually reduced due to its sharp, spasmodic release by the gonads.

It is dangerous not to take seasoning for women. Especially pregnant women. The concentration of estrogen and prolactin is increased in the plant, which can lead to excessive stimulation of the uterine, vaginal muscles, and this is fraught with miscarriage. In general, the abrupt inclusion of Shambhala in the diet is not initially perceived by the body asymptomatically.

Firstly, the intestines do not immediately adapt to this spice. Therefore, for some time, excessive gas formation, bloating or diarrhea can cause some inconvenience. But after a quick period of adaptation, a person will feel a significant improvement in well-being, and the seasoning will begin to bring undoubted benefits.

Secondly, doctors always remind that it is impossible to combine Shambhala with specialized pharmaceuticals for diabetes. Sufferers of this disease should be aware that the simultaneous use of fenugreek with prescribed medications can lead to a critical drop in blood sugar.

How to choose where to buy, store? Price

Fenugreek seeds can be found in stores. By the way, not only specialized ones. The price of seasoning is quite affordable, and depending on the seller, it can be in the range of 60-100 rubles per 100 gram pack.

You can store the seeds inside the package in which they are sold. Main conditions: do not allow direct sunlight, moisture. Temperature drops for grass are also undesirable, so the usual kitchen cupboard able to protect the seasoning for a long time. Subject to storage conditions, the spice retains its taste and aroma properties for up to three years.