Alfalfa is a medicinal plant that improves liver function, reduces fluid retention, regulates blood sugar levels, lowers cholesterol, controls high blood pressure, prevents urinary infections and relieves menopause symptoms.
These benefits are due to the fact that this plant is rich in bioactive substances, such as polyphenols, isoflavones and saponins, in addition to containing vitamins and minerals, guaranteeing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and diuretic properties, promoting health.
A alphabet (Medicago sativa) can be found in health food stores, pharmacies and at some markets and the parts that can be used in food are the sprouts, which can be used in salads or soups, for example. Additionally, the dried leaves or roots can be used to prepare teas or tinctures.
What is it for
The main indications of alfalfa are:
1. Protect the heart
Alfalfa contains saponins that help reduce LDL cholesterol in the blood, as it inhibits the enzymes that work in cholesterol metabolism, preventing the accumulation of this substance in the body and keeping the heart healthy.
Furthermore, this plant helps to increase HDL cholesterol levels, which acts as a cardiovascular protector, preventing the development of diseases such as heart attack or atherosclerosis.
2. Help control diabetes
Alfalfa contains compounds that stimulate the secretion of insulin, which is a hormone produced by the pancreas necessary to regulate blood glucose levels, in addition to containing high amounts of manganese, which has hypoglycemic properties, making it a very useful food for people with diabetes.
3. Prevent inflammation
The aerial parts of alfalfa contain substances with anti-inflammatory activity that act on the immune system, inhibiting its reaction to some situations, and can be useful as a therapeutic food to prevent and complement the treatment of inflammatory changes, such as inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis and allergies, for example.
4. Relieve PMS symptoms
Alfalfa is rich in phytoestrogens, which are substances with activity similar to estrogen, being effective in relieving the symptoms of PMS or menopause, such as abdominal pain, headache, nervousness and hot flashes.
5. Reduce and control weight
Alfalfa contains good amounts of water and fiber that help increase satiety between meals, reducing appetite and, thus, food consumption during the day and promoting body weight loss.
Furthermore, this plant is very low in calories, having only 23 kcal per 100 grams, making it a very useful food to incorporate into your diet for weight control.
6. Prevent liver damage
This medicinal plant contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant substances, such as phenols and flavonoids, which help regulate liver enzyme levels, preventing liver damage, in addition to helping to detoxify the body in general.
7. Control high blood pressure
Alfalfa is rich in antioxidant and mineral compounds, such as magnesium and potassium, having diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties that help to relax blood vessels and eliminate excess sodium from the body, making it a very good food to help control blood pressure in people with hypertension, in addition to preventing this condition.
8. Prevent osteoporosis
Alfalfa is also rich in vitamin K, a vitamin necessary for fixing calcium in bones, which is important for bone growth and formation in children and maintenance in adulthood, preventing the development of osteoporosis.
9. Reduce fluid retention
This plant has diuretic and circulatory properties that help reduce fluid retention or edema in the body, as well as being useful in helping to treat diseases associated with this condition, such as kidney, heart or liver problems.
10. Improve blood clotting
Because it contains good amounts of vitamin K, alfalfa can help with the formation of blood clots, being important to prevent bleeding and hemorrhages in the case of wounds or surgical procedures.
However, if the person is using anticoagulants, it is important to limit their consumption, as vitamin K can reduce their effectiveness.
11. Avoid urinary infections
As it is a natural diuretic, alfalfa promotes the flow of urine, preventing the accumulation of harmful bacteria in the urinary tract, being useful for preventing and helping to treat urinary infections.
Is alfalfa good for breastfeeding?
Alfalfa, as it has estrogenic isoflavonoids in its composition, such as genistein and daidzein, with an effect similar to estrogen naturally produced by the body, which supposedly can increase the production of breast milk, and can be consumed cooked and in small quantities, in salads , for example.
However, its use in the form of supplements or teas during breastfeeding is not recommended, due to the greater amount of estrogenic isoflavonoids, which can pass to the baby through the milk in small quantities, and there are still no scientific studies on the effects they can have. in the baby. Furthermore, there are also no studies on the excretion of other components of alfalfa through breast milk.
Therefore, the use of alfalfa during breastfeeding should be done with the guidance of a doctor, nutritionist or herbalist. Here are some tips to increase breast milk production.
Nutritional information
The following table provides nutritional information for raw sprouted alfalfa sprouts per 100 grams and for each 33-gram serving, which corresponds to 1 cup:
To enjoy the benefits of alfalfa, it is important that it is part of a healthy and balanced diet, and that physical activity is practiced daily.
Make an appointment with your nearest nutritionist for the best guidance on how to include alfalfa in your daily diet:
How to use alfalfa
Alfalfa is a very nutritious sprout, with a low amount of calories, which has a delicate flavor and should be consumed raw, thus taking advantage of all its nutrients and benefits. Therefore, alfalfa leaves and roots can be consumed in salads, soups, as a filling for natural sandwiches and in the form of juice or teas, for example.
1. Alfalfa Tea
One of the ways to consume alfalfa is through tea, which must be prepared using the dried leaves and roots of this medicinal plant.
Ingredients
- 20 mg of dried leaves and alfalfa root;
- 500 mL of water.
Preparation mode
Boil the water, turn off the heat and add the alfalfa. Let it rest for about 5 minutes and then strain, wait for it to cool and drink up to 3 times a day.
2. Alfalfa sprouts
Alfalfa sprouts can be used in food to prepare salads, soups or sandwiches, for example.
To prepare the salad, you can add a handful of alfalfa sprouts, with other green leaves, such as lettuce or arugula, and you can also add cherry tomatoes or carrots, for example, and season with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. .
Ideally, the amount of alfalfa in the diet should be guided by the nutritionist, according to the person’s nutritional needs, and should be part of a balanced and nutritious diet.
During lactation it is recommended to consume cooked alfalfa sprouts, due to the increased risk of infections caused by Salmonella, Escherichia coli e Listeriawhen consumed raw.
3. Alfalfa Capsules
Alfalfa can also be found in the form of capsules, in compounding pharmacies or natural product stores, prepared with the dry extract of this medicinal plant, containing 400 mg to 650 mg of alfalfa per capsule.
Doses may vary according to the amount of alfalfa in the composition of the capsules, and therefore their use should only be done under the guidance of a doctor or a professional with experience in medicinal plants, with individualized doses.
Possible side effects
Alfalfa is considered safe when consumed in recommended quantities, however, when used in larger amounts than recommended, it can cause side effects such as excess gas, abdominal pain or diarrhea.
Furthermore, due to the increased risk of salmonella contamination of alfalfa sprouts, E. coli and listeria, alfalfa can cause intestinal infections with symptoms such as intestinal cramps, severe diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever. In this case, you should consult your general practitioner or go to the hospital, as it can cause dehydration, requiring IV fluid, and in some cases, the need to use antibiotics to treat the infection.
Alfalfa, as it contains L-canavanine in its composition, can also cause side effects similar to lupus or trigger acute symptoms of lupus, especially when consumed for a long time and without medical advice. Know how to identify the symptoms of lupus.
Who shouldn’t use
Alfalfa should not be used by children under 5 years of age, elderly people over 65 years of age, or by people who have autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, gout or multiple sclerosis, for example, or who use photosensitizing medications , such as antibiotics, antiarrhythmics, antidepressants, diuretics or skin ointments, as it can increase the risk of sunburn.
In addition, alfalfa should not be used by women who are pregnant, or who use hormonal contraceptives, take estrogen hormone replacement therapy, or have health conditions such as endometriosis, breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, or uterine fibrosis, due to to the estrogenic effect of alfalfa.
Alfalfa should also not be used by people who use anticoagulant medications, such as warfarin or acetylsalicylic acid, for example, as it may interfere with the effectiveness of these medications.
If surgery is necessary, the use of alfalfa should be stopped two weeks before and after surgery.
