Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds contain soluble fiber as well as compounds known as steroidal saponins that inhibit cholesterol production by the liver and accelerate cholesterol breakdown.¹⁰ A meta-analysis that included findings from 12 placebo-controlled trials found fenugreek lowered total and LDL-cholesterol levels,¹¹ while another meta-analysis that included 12 randomized controlled trials found fenugreek not only reduced total and LDL-cholesterol but also raised HDL-cholesterol levels.¹² In one controlled trial, 114 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients were randomly assigned to treatment with 25 grams (almost two tablespoons) of fenugreek seed powder twice daily or no treatment for one month. Total cholesterol levels fell 13.6% and LDL-cholesterol levels dropped 23.4% in those receiving fenugreek but were unchanged in the no-treatment group.¹³

 

Fenugreek has been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in people with high lipid levels in preliminary trials.¹⁴ Bread made with 50 grams defatted fenugreek powder was used twice daily in the trial. Similar results have been seen at half that amount in people with diabetes and elevated blood levels of various lipids.¹⁵ A small randomized trial found similar results using 100 grams fenugreek seeds daily.¹⁶ One small clinical trial found that either 25 grams or 50 grams per day of defatted fenugreek seed powder were effective in reducing triglycerides over a 20-day period.¹⁷ Mild diarrhea and gas can accompany the first few days of fenugreek use, though it almost always fades as the person taking it adapts.

Fenugreek seeds have a long history of use in the treatment of diabetes, and some fenugreek constituents have demonstrated anti-diabetes actions such as reducing starch digestion and glucose absorption in the gut, improving insulin sensitivity, and increasing insulin secretion.^18,19 In clinical research, 60 subjects with type 2 diabetes who took 10 grams per day of hot water-soaked fenugreek seeds for six months had better blood glucose control than matched patients who received no fenugreek.²⁰ Taking 10 grams per day of fenugreek seeds was reported to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in people with pre-diabetes in another controlled study.²¹ A placebo-controlled trial found 500 mg of fenugreek extract containing high amounts of constituents called furostanolic saponins improved blood glucose control and reduced medication need in people with type 2 diabetes after 90 days.²² A meta-analysis that included eight randomized controlled trials noted that, despite the overall low quality of the studies, fenugreek, in doses of at least 5 grams per day, appears to improve blood glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes, and the effects are greater with higher doses. Doses of up to 100 grams per day of fenugreek were used in the studies.²³

Fenugreek seeds are high in soluble fiber, which helps lower blood sugar by slowing down carbohydrate digestion and absorption.²⁴ Fenugreek extract has also been shown to increase the number and function of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and improve blood sugar control, lipid levels, and antioxidant capacity in animal models of type 1 diabetes.^25,26,27 In a controlled study in people with type 1 diabetes, incorporating powdered fenugreek seed into lunch and dinner meals (50 grams per meal) for ten days improved several measures of blood sugar control compared to a similar ten-day diet without added fenugreek.²⁸

 

The laxatives most frequently used world-wide come from plants. Herbal laxatives are either bulk-forming or stimulating.

Bulk-forming laxatives come from plants with a high fiber and mucilage content that expand when they come in contact with water; examples include psyllium, flaxseed, and fenugreek. As the volume in the bowel increases, a reflex muscular contraction occurs, stimulating a bowel movement. These mild laxatives are best suited for long-term use in people with constipation.