Nature has gifted us with natural healing ingredients. It has offered us herbs and plants which have medicinal values. These "natural medicines" can do wonders in certain health conditions. Alfalfa is one of those medicinal herbs.
Alfalfa originated in southwestern Asia. It belongs to the pea family of legume. This leguminous crop is rich in protein, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K.
What are the Health Benefits of Alfalfa?
- Acts as a Health Tonic: Alfalfa is rich in various nutrients, which make it a good health tonic. It contains 8 essential amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. Thus, it is a single food with multiple nutrients.
- Lowers Cholesterol: Alfalfa contains plant phytoestrogens, saponins and glycosides along with fiber. All these ingredients help in the lowering of the cholesterol levels in the blood.
- Protects Against Artherosclerosis: Alfalfa contains some derivatives of coumarin, an anti-platelet substance. Blood clots adhere to the blood vessels and hence can make people more susceptible to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Coumarin derivatives of Alfalfa help in reducing the risk of blood clot formation, and hence protect against atherosclerosis.
- Eases Menopausal Symptoms: The high content of phytoestrogen in Alfalfa helps in relieving the symptoms of menopause.
- Helps in Digestion: Alfalfa helps in increasing appetite apart from treating conditions like heartburn, indigestion and constipation.
- Shows Diuretic Effect: Alfalfa has a diuretic action and it helps in the flushing out of excess water. It is also found to be effective against the diseases of the kidney, bladder and the prostate gland.
Can Everyone Consume Alfalfa Sprouts Safely?
Alfalfa sprouts are high in "canavanine", a type of amino acid. Some researchers suggest that canavanine can worsen inflammatory conditions as found in rheumatoid arthritis. Hence, people with this specific health issue should avoid Alfalfa sprouts.
You need to note that all the studies done on Alfalfa, so far, are animal based and human studies are yet to be performed.
