alfalfa plant (Medicago sativa) is a plant from the legume family which has been used for hundreds of years as animal feed. However, recently the benefits of the alfalfa plant for the health of the human body have been increasingly recognized.
The parts of the alfalfa plant that can be used are the seeds and leaves. You can grow the seeds of the alfalfa plant and eat the sprouts. The seeds and leaves of this plant are also quite often used as supplements which are usually available in powder, tablet, or tea form.
Alfalfa Plant Nutrient Content
The alfalfa plant has many health benefits thanks to its abundant nutritional content, such as:
- Fiber
- Protein
- Carbohydrate
- Vitamins, such as vitamins K, C, B1, B2, and B9.
- Minerals, such as copper, manganese, magnesium, and iron.
In addition, the sprouts of this plant are also low in calories. In 1 small bowl or about 30 grams of fresh alfalfa sprouts contains only 8 calories. Alfalfa plants also have high levels of bioactive compounds, such as saponins, coumarins, flavonoids, phytosterols, phytoestrogens, and alkaloids.
Benefits of Alfalfa Plants for Health
The following are the various benefits that you can get if you consume the alfalfa plant:
1. Lowers cholesterol levels
The bioactive compounds of alfalfa plant saponins are able to reduce cholesterol absorption in the intestine. This can then lower total cholesterol and bad cholesterol (LDL) in the body.
Although studies examining this benefit in humans are still too few, the alfalfa plant has great potential to be a cholesterol-lowering therapy.
2. Lower the risk of diabetes
Eating foods high in fiber, such as the alfalfa plant, can also help control blood sugar levels. This is because fiber has the ability to slow down the absorption of glucose in the intestines and prevent a drastic rise in blood sugar. Thus, your risk of developing diabetes will also decrease.
3. Relieves menopause symptoms
Consuming alfalfa herbs is also believed to relieve menopausal symptoms, such as sweating and feeling hot, especially at night, which is caused by decreased levels of the hormone estrogen. Alfalfa plants contain bioactive compounds called phytoestrogens which are similar to the hormone estrogen.
These phytoestrogen compounds are able to fill the decreased levels of the hormone estrogen in women who are going through menopause, so that menopausal symptoms can subside. However, further research is still needed to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the alfalfa plant to relieve menopausal symptoms.
4. Fights excess free radicals
Alfalfa plants have high levels of antioxidants. These antioxidants function to fight excess free radicals, which have the potential to cause damage to cells in the body and trigger various chronic diseases.
By eating antioxidant-rich foods, such as the alfalfa plant, you can avoid various chronic diseases caused by the buildup of free radicals. One of them is cancer. Of course, this must also be balanced with a consistent healthy diet.
5. Relieves symptoms of arthritis
The alfalfa plant is also thought to be useful for relieving the symptoms of arthritis. This assumption comes from the ability of the alfalfa plant to reduce the production of cytokine compounds that play a major role in the occurrence of joint inflammation.
However, unfortunately, many studies are still needed to ensure the safety and effectiveness of using the alfalfa plant in arthritis.
6. Launching breast milk
Thanks to its phytoestrogen content, the alfalfa plant is also said to be able to stimulate maximum milk production. Therefore, this plant is often used as the basic ingredient for breast milk-stimulating herbal medicine which is usually combined with black cumin (habbatussauda) and fenugreek.
You can use the alfalfa plant as a good source of nutrients and antioxidants. You can make the sprouts of this plant as an addition to sandwich, salads, or stir-fried vegetables and soups.
Even so, as already mentioned above, the effectiveness and safety of the alfalfa plant as a medicine has not been fully proven. So, you should not rely on this plant to treat certain diseases.
In addition, if you are pregnant, taking blood-thinning medications, or have a compromised immune system, you should consult your doctor first before consuming the alfalfa plant, either in plant or supplement form.