Alfalfa the Father of All Foods
article by : Cortney Kern
Alfalfa is a one in a million. The name most likely makes you think of the little rascals character or horse food, but what I am talking about is alfalfa the power herb! It’s hard to find another herb packed with as much goodness as alfalfa. This long used herb got its name from the Arabic language and means the father of all foods. The roots of alfalfa can reach up to 20 feet deep all the way down into the nutrient rich earth. With such deep roots, alfalfa gets a boost in nutritional value and contains the highest amount of chlorophyll of any plant.
This perennial flowering plant with purple blooms is a member of the pea family and one of the earliest known herbs to be used and traded by civilizations. Going back over six thousand years, archaeologists have found traces of alfalfa on Persian ruins. We also know through writings that the Greeks used alfalfa to treat bladder and kidney diseases. Further east, the Chinese used alfalfa to help get rid of kidney stones. In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, alfalfa has long been used to relieve water retention, arthritis and ulcers. With such a global use of alfalfa throughout our history, there is much to admire about what this herb has done to help treat people for centuries.
What’s So Great About Alfalfa?
The flowering alfalfa plant (photo: Wikipedia)
To get some of the key minerals you need to be healthy and vibrant, look no further. In alfalfa you will find Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin K and minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium and phosphorus. The vitamins found in alfalfa are important for eye health, promoting healthy skin, protecting your cells from sun damage and environmental pollutants, improves immune function and strengthens blood vessels. If you are looking for a protein punch, alfalfa has 5.8% more protein than eggs and 2.4% more than beef. Move over cows, greens are in!
The alkalizing power of alfalfa is stronger than that which is provided by common fruit and vegetables, which are rated on a scale of 1-10 units alkaline. Alfalfa is roughly 130 units alkaline and blows the other plants out of the water. This characteristic makes it extremely important to many Americans, as the typical American diet of red meat and dairy tends to be very acidic in nature and can cause a host of autoimmune issues and various diseases.
Not too bad for a plant huh?
What Are the Common Uses of Alfalfa?
- For those with heart disease, alfalfa can help lower cholesterol as the fibers of alfalfa stick to the cholesterol, preventing it from sticking to the arterial walls or in the blood.
- Alfalfa has long been used to detox and purify the blood and liver as it has diuretic properties and the chlorophyll in alfalfa acts as a natural detoxifier. Alfalfa's effect on detoxing can help prevent infections to the bladder and urinary tract by increasing urine flow and making urine less acidic.
- Alfalfa can help to dissolves kidney stones.
- Taken in therapeutic doses, alfalfa is a great anti inflammatory and pain reliever that helps relieve discomfort from sore and achy joints. Suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and gout can find relief by using alfalfa as it aids in regulating the balance of alkalinity and acidity in your body and dissolves uric acid.
- Made up of digestive enzymes, alfalfa is good for your digestive health and can help with indigestion and gas as it works to break down foods and promote bowel movements.
- Looking to improve your oral care? Alfalfa can help to reverse tooth decay and remineralize teeth as well as helping improving your breath odor.
- Suffering from allergies or hay fever? The anti-histamine effect of the alfalfa enzymes can help. I know my sister used to take alfalfa growing up to help her with her spring allergies. You can take it before or after the onset of allergies.
Alfalfa reduces allergies (photo: HowStuffWorks) - If you have diabetes, alfalfa can help you by reducing your blood sugar levels
- Alfalfa takers can help increase their ability for their blood to clot quicker after an injury
Alfalfa tea looks like green tea (photo: About.com)
Most commonly sold in the form of seeds, leaves or tablets, alfalfa can be consumed in tinctures, teas, capsules and add to food like soups and salads. The way that I prefer to take alfalfa is in the capsule form or I will put the capsules in hot water and drink it as a tea. Alfalfa, although loaded with nutrients, is rather bland in flavor. To help add some taste to my alfalfa tea, I often will combine it with another type of tea such as mint, green tea or raspberry to add flavor. Alfalfa tea is an especially nice way to take alfalfa if you are recovering from a cold and need a boost.
If you are going to take alfalfa in the capsule or tablet form, you should take 1 per 10 pounds that you weigh. You can break this up into doses throughout the day if you’d like. I generally just make two to three cups of alfalfa tea a day with my tablets dissolved.
Alfalfa Complex: The Shaklee Difference
Most effective way to take alfalfa. Buy.
Shaklee’s Alfalfa Complex is organically grown out of California’s fertile Antelope Valley. The way the alfalfa is grown in this valley is different from conventional alfalfa farms as they do not spray pesticides or add chemicals to their crops. So, you can be assured that the Shaklee alfalfa is a pure and nontoxic form of this important herb. To further assure that you get the best nutritional content possible, Shaklee harvests their alfalfa at it’s peak maturity of 5-7 years old. Once it is harvested, they lay the alfalfa out to dry in the fresh air and warm California sun. Once the alfalfa is harvested, Shaklee only takes the power packed leaves to make it’s alfalfa capsules.
Are There Any Side Effects of Taking Alfalfa?
Check with your doctor before taking alfalfa if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant as alfalfa contains the amino acid canavanine and can potentially have an effect on your hormone levels. Consult your doctor if you are dealing with an autoimmune disease. Do not use with aspirin or other anti-clotting medication.
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