What is the herb alfalfa ? Why is it good for you?!
What is the herb alfalfa ? Why is it good for you?
Answers:
What is Alfalfa?
Latin Name: Medicago sativa
Other Names: Buffalo herb, Lucerne, Purple Medic, Chilean clover
Alfalfa is a plant native to the Mediterranean region but widely cultivated elsewhere. It has an age-old reputation as a nutritious food. Alfalfa contains chlorophyll, protein, minerals, and beta-carotene, B vitamins, and vitamins C, E, and K.
Alfalfa has a long history of use as a folk remedy in Europe, China, and India for indigestion, arthritis, bladder problems, high cholesterol, allergic rhinitis and hayfever, and irregular menstruation.
Sources of Alfalfa
Alfalfa is best known as a food. The raw sprouts can be found in the produce section of grocery stores and health food stores.
It is also available in capsule, powder, tablet, and liquid extract forms. Many of these supplements are made from dried alfalfa leaves and/or seeds.
Why is it good for you? Why People Use Alfalfa?
Nutritional Support, Allergies, Diabetes, Menopausal Symptoms (e.g. Hot Flashes), High Cholesterol
What is the Scientific Evidence for Alfalfa?
Although preliminary studies with human subjects suggest that alfalfa may lower total and LDL cholesterol, there haven't been any randomized, controlled trials to substantiate these initial findings.
In fact, there haven't been any randomized, controlled human trials on the use of alfalfa for any human health condition.
Alfalfa contains coumestans, which are phytoestrogens. For this reason, alfalfa has been examined in laboratory studies for menopausal symptoms.
Source(s):
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupp...
It's not an herb, it is a sprout. One day, it will grow up to be hay, or cut it and you have alfalfa.
Alfalfa is the primary vegetation feed for livestock. Farmers feed it to there cows, sheep, goats, and horses.
Alfaalfa is sprout seed (tiny dark seeds). It is a good source of calcium, selenium and zink. I use it when I make bread and sometimes in salad dressing.