All You Ever Wanted To Know About Alfalfa
Used by the Chinese to treat kidney stones. Used by the Greeks for bladder and kidney conditions. This herb has been given many names such as Buffalo Herb, Lucerne, and Purple Medic, but it is known best as the alfalfa herb, meaning ‘father of all foods.’ So how can alfalfa help you?
To begin with, alfalfa is rich in vitamins A (eye health), E (heart and cardiovascular health), U (treats peptic ulcers), B6 (stimulates protein and fat metabolism), K (blood clotting and liver functions), and D (regulates the use of calcium and phosphorus in the body). It also contains many beneficial minerals such as calcium and phosphorus (bone and teeth health), iron (needed in hemoglobin), manganese (lowers blood sugar levels), potassium (muscle tone and nerves), chlorides (regulates fat, sugar and starch metabolism), sodium (regulates fluid balance), and silicon magnesium (stimulates brain function).
Protein and fiber are also plentiful within alfalfa. In addition, it contains eight essential enzymes: Amylase (acts on starches), Coagulase (clots blood), Emulsin (acts upon sugar), Invertase (converts cane sugar to dextrose), Lipase (fat splitting), Pectinase (forms vegetable jelly), Peroxidate (oxidizing effect of the blood), and Protase (digests proteins). These in turn help in digesting all four classes of food: proteins, fats, starches and sugars.
By attracting it to itself before the cholesterol can stick to vessel walls, alfalfa helps lower cholesterol. As a mild diuretic and laxative, alfalfa may improve appetite and relieve some causes of swelling. The chlorophyll, enzymes, minerals, and vitamins all aid digestion and help stimulate appetites. The chlorophyll in alfalfa is what helps fight bad bacteria. It is used in the treatment of urinary tract infections, as well as problems with the prostate, kidney, and bladder. Alfalfa has anti-inflammatory qualities and thus can relieve pain associated with arthritis and bursitis.
Other alfalfa benefits include that its richness has been found especially beneficial to health needs related to child birth. It can relieve morning sickness, anemia, heartburn, and constipation. The vitamin K both reduces postpartum bleeding and increase the K level in the baby. Alfalfa will also reduce swelling, balance blood sugar levels, and increase and sustain lactation. In addition, menopausal women have discovered alfalfa reduces hot flashes.
There are many ways to ingest the nutrition of alfalfa. It can also be purchased as a liquid, tablet, capsule, or bulk herbs. A word of caution: because if its potential blood thinning effect, alfalfa is not recommended for those with lupus.
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