Can You Overdose On Fenugreek?
Yes, people can overdose on fenugreek and take and use too much, and although this herb has been praised for its amazing nutritional and healing powers, when it comes to taking too much fenugreek, especially at once, it can be very dangerous for your health as you are going to find out in this post.
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How Much Fenugreek Is Too Much?
Can you take too much fenugreek? The answer is yes, in fact, it’s very easy and unfortunately, it lead to even permanent damages to your liver and overall body.
In this website, I have repeated over and over that two teaspoons, a day of ground fenugreek seeds can do wonders in terms of breast growth and firmness for women, increased fertility for men, and abundant breast milk supply for nursing mothers.
However, you have to understand that you are dealing with a very powerful herb.
Indeed, fenugreek has been praised for its medicinal benefits, as in treating enlarged prostate, prostate cancer and training and endurance, however, it’s not without side effects, especially if you take too much.
Don’t worry, in the coming sections, I’m going to tell you exactly how much is too much fenugreek and most importantly, what you can do about it, what are the most important measures you need to take to reduce its side effects and stop it from causing damages to your body.
And to be completely honest with you, in this post, I’m not going to discuss some of fenugreek’s most infamous side effects, such as the maple syrup smell because I’ve already covered this in a previous article.
Indeed, whenever you read an article on the internet about the dangers of fenugreek, you are immediately going to read about the maple syrup smell. I’veI’ve already dealt with this subject in a previous post where I’ve talked about how doctors misdiagnose it for “maple syrup urine disease“.
Indeed, fenugreek maple syrup smell is not something to be worried about, it’s not going to cause any damages to your body, and it’s not a symptom of fenugreek overdose.
Although fenugreek maple syrup smell can seem like a dangerous side effect, it’s not!
Is Too Much Fenugreek Bad For You?
The short answer is yes, but to be completely honest, it’s very difficult to consume too much fenugreek especially in ground seeds form.
The truth is this: fenugreek doesn’t taste very nice, it’s very powerful, it causes a bitter taste in your mouth, and it can also cause stomach issues such as vomiting and diarrhea, so, most of the time, people cannot take too much fenugreek; however, it can happen.
This is most common with supplements since they are very convenient to use and easy to take all day long.
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Can You Overdose On Fenugreek Capsules?
It’s true, when you start ingesting fenugreek capsules daily, in high amounts, as I’m going to talk about later on in this post, they can have terrible repercussions on your system, especially on your liver.
Indeed, with the strength of fenugreek extracts increasing from one brand to another, it’s very easy to overdose on fenugreek capsules, as mentioned before.
Since they are so easy to take, more importantly, your liver is the main organ responsible for filtering out toxins from your blood stream.
Since fenugreek extracts are already stripped of their natural fibers and, most importantly, since they come in high concentrations, it can be very easy to damage your liver and cause even permanent injuries.
I highly recommend that you read the following article from Consumer Reports on liver damage due to supplements: https://www.consumerreports.org/health/liver-damage-from-supplements-is-on-the-rise/ , it’s eye-opening.
Fenugreek Overdose Symptoms
In this section, we are going to discuss the most important symptoms and side effects that can be caused by too much fenugreek in your system.
The first dangerous side effect of overdosing on fenugreek is having:
Low Blood Glucose Level
Fenugreek can be extremely dangerous if taken in large amounts, especially with diabetics.
It’s very simple to understand, fenugreek seeds and extracts are extremely efficient at lowering your blood glucose level, hypoglycemia is indeed a very known side effect of fenugreek overdose, and it has been proven scientifically, for more information, check out the following paid research study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874116305232
When you consume too much fenugreek seeds or extracts, your blood glucose is simply going to drop dramatically.
And let me tell you that a decrease in blood glucose levels can be extremely dangerous for your health and can even lead to coma and death!
Here are some of the symptoms of hypoglycemia:
- Having a blurry vision
- Excessive heart beats
- Aggressiveness
- Headaches
- Sweating
- Numbness of the skin
- Weakness
- Trembling
And if hypoglycemia is not dealt with rapidly and properly, it can degenerate into fainting, and even coma and death as mentioned before!
All these symptoms have to be taken very seriously; however, I have to be completely honest with you, there are so many people taking large amounts of fenugreek seeds and extracts daily and trust me, they haven’t suffered from low blood glucose levels, including myself.
It’s been more than five years now that I have been taking fenugreek, in seeds and extract form daily. With no side effects whatsoever, however, the purpose of this post is to make you aware of fenugreek’s most terrible side effects and mainly how you can avoid them by respecting the right dosage for your body.
The second symptom of overdosing on fenugreek is:
High Fever
Fenugreek is no “simple” food, it’s very rich in nutrients and also extremely rich in anti-inflammatory chemicals.
When you consume too much fenugreek, your body is going to have an allergic reaction to its active components, and to protect you; your body is going to increase the inflammation level and also increase your temperature, which we call high fever!
However, this will only occur when you consume extremely high amounts of fenugreek, which is why I highly recommend that you stick to the dosage I’m going to give you in the coming section of this article.
The third symptom is:
Stomach Pain
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Again, fenugreek tends to be extremely aggressive on your body if you eat too much, and one of the most recurring symptoms is having stomach pain.
Your body is going to try to defend you and get rid of the massive amounts of fenugreek in your stomach.
So it’s going to cause stomach pain and will try to get rid of fenugreek, as much as possible, that’s why you are going to have aggressive stomach pain most commonly accompanied by vomiting and sometimes even diarrhea.
Which is our fourth symptom:
Diarrhea
It’s extremely simple to understand this, and side effect of taking too much fenugreek.
Well, you are dealing with a very fiber rich seed, indeed, fenugreek seeds contain about 25 grams of fiber for each 100 grams of seeds!
Now, can you imagine this, twenty-five grams of fiber is more than one hundred percent of your daily requirements!
And 100 grams of fenugreek seeds doesn’t look like much, it’s not impressive, and most of the time, people can easily take more, especially if it’s cooked.
This is the main reason why diarrhea and stomach cramps are some of the most common Fenugreek overdose symptoms.
How Much Fenugreek to Take Daily
Can I take too much fenugreek?
The answer is absolute, yes, and it can also happen very easily, so stay focused when using this herb and do not exceed the amounts I’m going to recommend in this post.
In this section, I’m going to share with you the most important information in this article, which is how much fenugreek you can take daily to avoid the symptoms we have just discussed.
I’ve experimented a lot with different amounts when it comes to fenugreek, and six tablespoons a day is the number to always keep in mind as it’s where problems start!
Indeed, whenever I took less than six tablespoons a day or fenugreek seeds, ground, I rarely had any side effects.
However, the moment I took six tablespoons or more, I started feeling horrible all day long!
However, before taking this number for granted, you need to consult with your doctor, especially if you are on medication as fenugreek is known to interfere with many pharmaceutical compounds.
However, what you need to understand right now is that in most countries where fenugreek is consumed daily, people are going to eat no more than two tablespoons a day of ground fenugreek seeds.
How Many Grams of Fenugreek per Day
To stay in the safe zone, I have always stuck to no more than twenty grams of fenugreek a day, which translates to about two tablespoons.
And I really think you should stick with this rule as well since it’s very safe to take and it won’t cause you side effects.
How Many Teaspoons of Fenugreek Seeds
If you are just starting to take fenugreek, try to begin with little amounts in order to build a strong tolerance to its side effects.
If you are starting to use fenugreek seeds, then you need to begin slowly, and the best way to do so is to start with one teaspoon a day and then increase this amount as you keep on taking it daily.
I remember when I first started taking fenugreek seeds, I immediately began taking about five tablespoons a day, thinking that it’s going to do me wonders.
Well, I was wrong, soon, I started feeling dizzy, and I even had terrible diarrhea and stomach pain.
You need to stay away from this as much as possible, and you need always to start very gradually which fenugreek, so, no more than one teaspoon a day if you have never used fenugreek seeds before. After two weeks, you can increase this amount to about two teaspoons.
Although I have advised many of my readers over and over to start with two teaspoons a day of ground fenugreek seeds, I think that it’s very safe if you start with one teaspoon a day and then increase this amount to reduce stomach problems.
How Many Fenugreek Capsules
In a previous section, I have already talked about the dangers of consuming too much fenugreek capsules, but I didn’t give you an amount to respect.
Well, it’s because of a very important reason:
Most fenugreek extracts sold nowadays are not of excellent quality; they are made with cheap ingredients and can cause you different problems ranging from stomach pain to even liver damage!
I’m sure that this is going to sound very scary, and it is, this is the reason why I highly recommend that you only use reputable brands such as Nature’s Way.
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Which is the one I started using about five years ago, and it’s flawless, in my opinion.
So, if you are using a good fenugreek capsules brand, then, do not exceed ten capsules a day, and the same advice also applies here, meaning that when you start taking your fenugreek capsules, never start with large amounts, always start very slowly.
By slowly, I mean taking 1 to 2 capsules a day and, most importantly, after a meal with a large glass of water as this can avoid you so many troubles and so many stomach issues later on.
What to Do When You Overdose On Fenugreek
The first and most important thing you need to do when you are suffering from fenugreek overdose is to go to the hospital, especially when it comes to low blood glucose levels!
It can be very dangerous, and it can cause you terrible damage!
You should also drink plenty of water and have a sugary beverage since fenugreek can decrease your blood glucose levels very rapidly.
Apart from this, the wisest thing you can do is to call your doctor and keep monitoring your blood glucose level, when it comes to diarrhea and stomach pain, they don’t last very long since the body gets rid of excess fiber very quickly.
Hi sahar.. tq so much for the informations.. but i need a clarification.. for the fenugreek seeds, the 2teaspoons, is it the soaked or the dry one? For now I’m taking 2 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds.. but when i soaked it overnight, it expands.. so its like more than 2teaspoons.. I’m afraid i might took it wrongly.. pls advice.. tq so much..
Fenugreek seeds must be dry, a little roasted and then ground.
I have the ground fenugreek. Is it the same measurement as the seeds? Taking two teaspoons a day?
It is, just take it.
I was wondering how many capsules I should start out taking? I hope this works
Don’t exceed 6 a day.
hi i have taken so much of seeds now i am not at all feeling well
How much? Stop immediately and start drinking more water.
I started with 2 capsules the first night, 2 the next morning and I got so sick!!! Stomach cramping, aggressive throwing up, and liquid pooh…TMI. 3 days later, I’m still getting light headed, nauseous, chills, and then a high temp after I eat something sweet. My milk supply was definitely up though!! Lol. Been hydrating a lot, trying to keep food in my system, and lots of sleep. Finally starting to feel better.
Hi thank you so much for this informative article.
Does 2 capsules of fenugreek (500mg) enough for breast enlargement? Have started using it. But I wish to take only 2 per day so how long will it take to sew the results.?
Hi,
Sorry, it won’t cut it, it’s too low. At least two teaspoons a day, six capsules.
Took 4 610mg capsules (2 during lunch and 2 for dinner). Had diarrhoea after taking the 4th pill. And am not feeling too good. Palpitation and thirsty. Was told to take 9 per day by the lactation consultant. 3 during breakfast, lunch and dinner. Am glad I took 2 only for lunch and dinner first. What should I do?
You seem to have an intolerance to fenugreek or a component in the capsule.
Try to start slow, one capsule a day for two weeks and see what happened, if the side effects persist, you have to stop.
Can expect any more firmness or enlargement in my breasts at 74 with taking per day Fenugreek 500 mg (4),
Saw Palmetto 580 mg (4), Wild Yam 400 mg (8) and breast massage daily?
I enjoy your articles and comments/answers. Please answer in my email.
Hello Carole,
Thanks for your comment.
Yes, and you should also include daily breast firmness routines.
Hi Sahar.
Do I understand correctly that if I don’t have stomach aches, no nausea, no diarrhea, no hypoglycemia, then my liver is probably doing ok?
I just happen to be taking about 10 capsules per day, the soluble fiber is necessary for my megacolon (wikipedia it); Fenugreek is saving my life, at least until the day I lose access to more fenugreek. Now I’ll be more cognizant of not going over 10 capsules if I can help it.
I buy Nature’s Way capsules. I’ve been using them for about 4 years. If I weren’t locked down, and if I had medical coverage, I’d sign up for a liver test, thanks to your article. But so far I’m hanging in there.
For my next experiment, I may consider getting some organic, ground Fenugreek, and some empty capsules, and try saving some money.
Thank you for the indepth discussion to warn me about the fenugreek limits.
PS: I think it smells like concentrated celery.
Hello,
You’re welcome.
It doesn’t smell nice, but it does work, which is good.
Can’t really advice you on your liver, you need to see a doctor, sorry about that, I’m not a medical professional.
Hi Sahar, in another article I believe you said for males who want to grow breasts to take 6 capsules in the morning and 6 at night with dinner. Is that going over your 10 max here? I must be missing something. Thanks
Hi Sahar … I am 50 yo male that wants to develop breast tissue. I have began taking 10 Fenugreek capsules (610mg) and 4 saw palmetto capsules(450 mg) per day. Can you recommend additional dosage or additional supplements that can help me develop breasts. Thanks for your input, your blog has been incredible.
I’ve been taking Fenugreek since 2913. Started out following the directions on bottle. I have worked up to 36-46 capsules a day. I am diabetic but it has never lowered my blood sugar significantly. And never had any stomach pain. I have had breast growth. I wear a 52 D bra. I’m a man! I love the feeling of using it.