It’s a glorious Wednesday to discover the health benefits of alfalfa.
Alfalfa is a flowering plant that’s in the family of legumes. It’s also called lucerne, Galeria, and Medicago sativa.
Here is my list of the health benefits of alfalfa that I would like to share with you.
1. Alfalfa Is Good For Your Skin And Hair
The chlorophyll in alfalfa can be good in cleansing your skin.
It also contains nutrients that are helpful in improving the complexion and texture of your skin.
This is the same for the health of your hair. The nutrients found in alfalfa can improve blood circulation in your scalp which can prevent different kinds of hair problems like hair fall.
To add more, zinc can stimulate hair growth while the deficiency of iron can cause hair loss. Both of these minerals are present in alfalfa.
2. Is Helpful With Respiratory Health
Alfalfa has been traditionally used for treating different respiratory conditions like bronchitis, common colds, flu, and other respiratory problems caused by bacterial infections.
This plant is said to have anti-inflammatory qualities that are needed in treating conditions like asthma.
3. Alfalfa May Help Keep Your Kidneys Healthy
The diuretic effect of alfalfa can be helpful in reducing the workload of your urinary tract as it can stimulate and regulate the release of excess water and salt out of your body.
The nutrients present in alfalfa like vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc are said to be helpful in dissolving kidney stones.
4. Is A Good Source Of Vitamins And Minerals
Alfalfa is an herb that is rich in different kinds of nutrients.
It contains good amounts of dietary fiber and protein.
Alfalfa has essential vitamins like vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B9, vitamin C, and vitamin K.
As for its minerals content, you’ll get calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc.
5. Alfalfa Helps Regulate Blood Pressure
Alfalfa is a source of iron and potassium.
Iron is used for the production of red blood cells which can also help in your body’s better blood circulation.
Meanwhile, potassium is considered a vasodilator. It can widen your blood vessels so that your blood can flow smoothly.
6. Helps Lower Cholesterol Levels
Alfalfa is rich in dietary fiber which is good in the fight against cholesterol.
This herb also has saponins which can attach to cholesterol and stop it from sticking to the walls of your arteries.
7. Alfalfa Helps Protect Your Heart
The after-effects of some of the things alfalfa can do to your body can ultimately lead to a healthier heart.
Just by improving your cholesterol levels and regulating your blood pressure, it can greatly reduce the chances of getting different kinds of heart diseases.
8. Is Good For Your Digestive Health
As you may have already known, a fiber-rich diet is good for your digestion.
It can improve your bowel movement as well as lessen the inflammation in your gut.
As a result, you can prevent certain digestive disorders like bloating, cramping, constipation, diarrhea, and indigestion.
9. Alfalfa Contains Antioxidants
In Ayurveda, alfalfa has been considered to have antioxidant activity which is helpful in treating diseases caused by inflammation and oxidative damage.
This could be the case since this herb is rich in vitamin C.
There have been studies of its antioxidants activity but they’re mostly done with animals so more research are still needed if it’s significant enough for us humans.
If you’re looking for more foods that may contain antioxidants, you should read my article about the health benefits of air potato.
10. Improves Your Immune System
The vitamin C in itself can already boost your immune system. Alfalfa is a good source of it.
This particular nutrient helps in the production of your white blood cells which can be considered your body’s main soldiers that fight infectious diseases and foreign invaders.
Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant that works well against oxidative stress that causes damage to your cells.
11. Alfalfa May Be Helpful With Arthritis
For those who are suffering from arthritis and gout attacks like me, alfalfa can bring us a bit more relief.
It is said that this herb is able to neutralize the build-up of uric acid in your body.
To add more, the minerals present in alfalfa may be helpful in rebuilding and strengthening your joint tissues.
12. Helps Detoxify Your Body
Alfalfa is considered to be diuretic. This means that it helps stimulate frequent urination.
This process can speed up the detoxification of your body by speeding up the release of water waste, unwanted salt, and fats out of your body.
Just to add more here, the diuretic qualities of alfalfa can also be helpful in keeping your bladder, kidneys, and prostate in good health.
13. Alfalfa May Help With Diabetes Management
There are studies that can tell you that alfalfa may be helpful in managing your diabetes.
A study conducted by the Cairo University that will tell you that this herb can reduce high glucose levels in animals.
Here’s another study conducted on mice that will show you that alfalfa has antihyperglycaemic, insulin-releasing, and insulin-like activity.
Conclusion
These are some of the health benefits of alfalfa that you and I should know more about since this herb is quite common and can be easily found and consumed.
The best health benefit of alfalfa for me is that it can be helpful in the fight against arthritis. It even specifically says something about uric acid which is a struggle for me in keeping it low or at the normal levels.
How about you? What do you think is the best health benefit of alfalfa on my list that you need the most?
Like any other food you can consume for its health benefits, you should still ask advice first from your doctor or health professional about alfalfa.
Don’t forget to please share this article with someone you know who can benefit from my list. Thank you!