Keeping fit during lockdown can be a difficult. It is hard to stay motivated when you’re not going out and about and you’re confined to your own home.
But what if we were to tell you that there is a way to lose fat and gain muscle, and it involved eating a curry. That sounds too good to be true, we hear you cry.
Well, researchers in Australia have found just that.
Experts at universities in Sydney and New South Wales found that fenugreek leaves and seeds, a common spice used in curries such as Madras, can actually improve your strength and muscle site.
A group of 138 men, aged 25 to 47, were given the fenugreek supplement Testofen and saw an increase in their lean muscle and a fall in the amount of fat they had.
The researchers have claimed that it could therefore be used to help athletes as the herb is legal in sport.
They think it works by increasing release of testosterone within the body.
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The study's authors wrote: "This suggests a dose-response effect of Testofen, with an increasing dose corresponding with positive effects in body composition and aerobic fitness.
"Sports competitors could supplement with a WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency] approved herbal extract to increase lean mass, leg strength and endurance capacity while also decreasing fat mass.
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They then went on to outline how successful the herb was, stating: “The 600mg group showed decreases in body mass of 1.2 kg, −1.4 per cent body fat and an increase in lean mass (1.8 per cent) at eight weeks. The 600 mg group also demonstrated an increase in testosterone concentration from baseline to eight weeks.
"This study indicates that Testofen may be an effective ergogenic aid for individuals wanting to rapidly improve their exercise performance capabilities and body composition above and beyond that of calisthenic exercise alone."
So there we have it, eating a Madras curry with fenugreek actually has a lot of health benefits aside from giving you energy owing to the carbohydrate content.
Takeaway, anyone?
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