Nutritional and therapeutic benefits of fenugreek leaves – Why include methi leaves in your diet
Health and medicinal benefits of fenugreek leaves
Fenugreek leaves (methi patta in hindi, uluva ila in malayalam and tamil) are abundantly found in Indian vegetable markets, especially North Indian markets. It is a highly nutritious and body cooling vegetable. Fenugreek leaves are used to make sambar and dry vegetable curry in India. Fenugreek leaves is also mixed with flour to make nutritious snacks. It does cool body and has a laxative nature also. Eating fenugreek leaves at least three times a week would help you develop good health with proper digestion. As fenugreek leaves are iron rich, eating it regularly would help meet your iron requirements.
Fenugreek for lactating mothers
Just like fenugreek seeds fenugreek leaves also help improve lactation. Nursing mothers can therefore include it in their daily diet. Foods, especially vegetables that cool body, enable good lactation. Radish, bitter guard and fenugreek leaves are examples of such vegetables. Eating fenugreek leaves as part of the diet would improve milk production in mothers.
Fenugreek leaves for children – recipe for toddlers
Make your child eat vegetables like fenugreek leaves. He will never encounter an iron deficiency in childhood. I have a fenugreek leaves recipe for children. Cook fenugreek leaves (finely chopped leaves) with rice, moong dal (green gram dal) and rice in a pressure cooker. Finally add jaggery (melted jaggery, jaggery melted in hot water). Add 2 teaspoon butter. Now add cashew nuts and raisins friend in butter. This recipe can be used for spinach (cheera in Malayalam and tamil) and palak. Cutlet and vegetable momos can also be made using fenugreek leaves.
Fenugreek leaves helps prevent cancers
Regular use of fenugreek leaves can make you carefree about cancer. Eating this leaves helps digestion and eliminates constipation. Its medicinal properties help body prevent colon cancer and breast cancer.
Fenugreek leaves for diabetes
Just like fenugreek seeds, fenugreeks leaves are also good for diabetes patients. It is found to be helping both types of diabetes. If you see fenugreek leaves in your market do not forget to buy. Dishes using fenugreek leaves can be eaten with rice, chappathi, idli, dosa and appam. Using fenugreek leaves, carrots and shallots you can make a sambar (without other vegetables). Fenugreek leaves dal masala curry is good for roti and chappathi.
Fenugreek leaves cool body and treat heat boils and sores
Eating fenugreek leaves would help you keep your body cool. It is therefore highly recommended in summer. It does also make a big effect on sores and heat boils. Externally applying the paste of fenugreek leaves would also help. For diarrhea due to stomach heat and indigestion, you can have a dish made of fenugreek leaves. It would soother your stomach and cure the problem. Burning sensation in the foot of the soul can be treated by applying fenugreek leaves paste. Fenugreek leaves give a soothing feeling in burns also.
Fenugreek leaves for hair and skin
Applying fenugreek leaves paste on hair on head would promote hair growth and treat dandruff. But avoid using fenugreek leaves on hair in winter as it is very cool. You can otherwise add fenugreek leaves paste to coconut milk, hibiscus leaves paste or amla paste to apply on hair. Fenugreek leaves (methi leaves in hindi) would prevent premature hair graying and hair loss. A paste of fenugreek leaves if applied to pimples would heal it. Fenugreek is an ingredient of certain ayurvedic cosmetic creams. You can mix methi leaves paste with lemon juice and apply on face. This would prevent skin tanning, dark pigmentation and black heads.
Make a habit of eating fenugreek leaves
Making fenugreek leaves part of your diet would give you great benefits. Pregnant women and nursing women would be highly benefitted by the nutritious and medicinal benefits of methi leaves.
