Alfalfa

Alfalfa

Medicago sativa (alfalfa)

Alfalfa (scientific name: Medicago sativa) is a perennial flowering plant in the legume family. It is known for its exceptional nutritional value and is widely cultivated as a forage crop for livestock. In addition to its use as animal feed, alfalfa also offers numerous health benefits for humans. In this article, we will explore the characteristics, cultivation, uses, and health benefits of alfalfa.

Characteristics

Alfalfa is a hardy plant with a deep root system that allows it to withstand dry conditions. It has a bushy growth habit and can reach a height of 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm). The leaves are trifoliate, meaning they consist of three leaflets. The flowers are small and usually purple or blue in color, arranged in clusters on long spikes. Alfalfa plants also produce pods containing seeds, which are often used for sprouting.

Cultivation

Alfalfa is cultivated in many regions around the world due to its adaptability and nutritional value. Here are some key aspects of alfalfa cultivation:

Climate and Soil Requirements

Alfalfa grows best in temperate climates with well-drained soils. It requires a minimum of 15 inches (38 cm) of annual rainfall or irrigation equivalent. The plant prefers pH-neutral to slightly alkaline soils with good fertility.

Planting and Harvesting

Alfalfa is typically propagated through seeds. The seeds are sown in prepared seedbeds and require good soil contact for successful germination. The plants are usually harvested for hay when they reach the early flowering stage. Timing is crucial to ensure maximum nutrient content and digestibility.

Rotation and Maintenance

To maintain the health and productivity of alfalfa fields, rotational planting is recommended. This involves planting alfalfa for a specific period and then rotating to other crops to prevent disease buildup and optimize soil fertility. Regular irrigation, weed control, and pest management are also important for successful cultivation.

Uses

Livestock Feed

Alfalfa is primarily grown as a forage crop for livestock. The high protein content, along with vitamins and minerals, makes it a valuable source of nutrition for cattle, horses, sheep, and other grazing animals. It can be harvested as hay, silage, or pasture, providing essential nutrients for animal growth and production.

Soil Improvement

Alfalfa has a deep root system that can penetrate the soil and break up compacted layers. This helps improve soil structure, aeration, and water infiltration. Additionally, alfalfa's ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere enriches the soil with this vital nutrient, benefiting subsequent crops in rotation.

Human Consumption

Alfalfa is also consumed by humans, primarily in the form of sprouts. Alfalfa sprouts are popular additions to salads, sandwiches, and other dishes. They are low in calories and rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals like calcium and iron. However, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, or individuals taking certain medications should exercise caution when consuming raw sprouts due to potential contamination risks.

Health Benefits

Alfalfa offers several health benefits due to its nutrient profile and bioactive compounds. Some potential benefits include:

Nutritional Value

Alfalfa is a good source of essential nutrients, including protein, fiber, vitamins (A, C, E, K, and B vitamins), and minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium). It can contribute to a well-rounded diet, supporting overall health and vitality.

Antioxidant Properties

Alfalfa contains antioxidants, such as flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body. These antioxidants may contribute to reducing the risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease and certain types of cancer.

Potential Cholesterol-Lowering Effects

Some studies suggest that consuming alfalfa may have cholesterol-lowering effects. The fiber and plant sterols present in alfalfa may help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, thereby promoting cardiovascular health.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Certain compounds found in alfalfa, such as saponins, may possess anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds have been studied for their potential to reduce inflammation in conditions like arthritis and may contribute to overall well-being.

How it is Alfalfa used as a supplement?

Alfalfa is utilised for kidney situation, bladder and prostate situation, and to increase urine flow. It is furthermore used for high cholesterol, asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, upset stomach, and a bleeding disorder called thrombocytopenic purpura. persons also take alfalfa as a source of vitamins A, C, E, and K4; and minerals calcium, potassium, phosphorous, and metal.

How effective or useful is Alfalfa?

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness founded on scientific clues according to the following scale: productive, expected productive, probably productive, probably Ineffective, expected Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Gallery

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  Alfalfa

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  Sprouted Alfalfa

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  Alfalfa Sprouts

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  Salad, Romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomato, green pepper, radish, alfalfa sprouts, black olives, lemon juice, salt & olive oil

The effectiveness rankings by the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Repository for ALFALFA are as noted below:

Insufficient clues to rate effectiveness for any of the following:

• Reducing cholesterol in people with high cholesterol. Taking alfalfa seeds appears to lower total cholesterol and “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in persons with high cholesterol grades.
• Kidney troubles.
• Bladder troubles.
• Prostate troubles.
• Asthma.
• Arthritis.
• Diabetes.
• Upset stomach.

More research is required to rate alfalfa for these benefits.

Mechanism of action

Alfalfa appears to prevent cholesterol absorption in the gut.

How safe is Alfalfa?

Alfalfa leaves are probably not too risky for most adults. But taking alfalfa kernels long-term is expected UNSAFE. Alfalfa seed goods may origin reactions that are similar to the autoimmune problem called systemic lupus erythematosus.

Alfalfa might furthermore cause some people's skin to become additional sensitive to the sun. Wear sunblock outside, particularly if you are light-skinned.

exceptional precautions & warnings: Pregnancy or breast-feeding: utilising alfalfa in larger than nourishment allowances is probably UNSAFE throughout pregnancy and breast-feeding. There is some evidence that alfalfa may act like estrogen, and this might affect the pregnancy.

“Auto-immune diseases” such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other situation: Alfalfa might cause the immune scheme to become more hardworking, and this could boost the symptoms of auto-immune infections. There are two case accounts of SLE patients experiencing disease flare after taking alfalfa kernel goods long-term. If you have an auto-immune status, it’s best to bypass utilising alfalfa until more is renowned.

Hormone-sensitive status such as breast cancerous disease, uterine cancerous disease, ovarian cancerous disease, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Alfalfa might have the identical effects as the feminine hormone estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made poorer by exposure to estrogen, don’t use alfalfa.

Diabetes: Alfalfa might help reduce blood sugars (rarely hypoglycemia). If you have diabetes and take alfalfa, monitor your blood sugar levels nearly.

Kidney transplant: There is one report of a kidney transplant rejection following the three-month use of a supplement that contained alfalfa and very dark cohosh. This conclusion is more expected due to alfalfa than very dark cohosh. There is some clues that alfalfa can boost the immune scheme and this might make the anti-rejection pharmaceutical cyclosporine less effective.

Are there interactions off Alfalfa with medications?

Major interactions that require you to not take this combination.

Warfarin (Coumadin) Alfalfa comprises large amounts of vitamin K. Vitamin K is utilised by the body to help body-fluid clot. Warfarin (Coumadin) is utilised to slow blood clotting. By helping the blood clot, alfalfa might decrease the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin). Be certain to have your body-fluid checked frequently. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be altered.

Moderate risk of interactions that you should be careful while taking Alfalfa

Birth command pills (Contraceptive drugs)' Some birth command tablets contain estrogen. Alfalfa might have some of the identical consequences as estrogen. But alfalfa isn't as strong as the estrogen in birth command tablets. Taking alfalfa along with birth command tablets might decline the effectiveness of birth command tablets. If you take birth command pills along with alfalfa, use an additional pattern of birth control such as a condom.

Some birth control pills encompass ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel (Triphasil), ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone (Ortho-Novum 1/35, Ortho-Novum 7/7/7), and other ones.

'Estrogens Large allowances of alfalfa might have some of the identical consequences as estrogen. But even large allowance of alfalfa aren't as powerful as estrogen tablets. Taking alfalfa along with estrogen pills might decline the consequences of estrogen pills.

Some estrogen tablets include conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin), ethinyl estradiol, estradiol, and other ones.

Interaction of Alfalfa with medications that decrease the immunity (Immunosuppressants)

Alfalfa might increase the immune system. By expanding the immune system, alfalfa might decline the effectiveness of medications that decline the immune system.

Some medications that decline the immune scheme encompass azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and other ones.

Interaction of Alfalfa with medications that boost sensitivity to sunlight (Photosensitizing drugs)

Some medications can boost sensitivity to sunlight. Large doses of alfalfa might furthermore boost your sensitivity to sunlight. Taking alfalfa along with medication that boost sensitivity to sunlight could make you even more sensitive to sunlight, expanding the chances of sunburn, blistering or rashes on localities of skin exposed to sunlight. Be certain to wear sunblock and protective apparel when expending time in the sun.

Some pharmaceuticals that origin photosensitivity include amitriptyline (Elavil), Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), norfloxacin (Noroxin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), ofloxacin (Floxin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), gatifloxacin (Tequin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Septra), tetracycline, methoxsalen (8-methoxypsoralen, 8-MOP, Oxsoralen), and Trioxsalen (Trisoralen).

Are there interactions with herbs and supplements?

Vitamin E Alfalfa might hinder with the way the body takes in and values vitamin E.

Are there interactions with foods?Return to top There are no renowned interactions with nourishment.

What dose is used?Return to peak The following doses have been investigated in technical study:

BY MOUTH: For high cholesterol: a typical dose is 5-10 grams of the herb, or as a steeped struggled tea, three times a day. 5-10 mL of a liquid extract (1:1 in 25% alcoholic beverage) three times a day has also been utilised.

Keto friendliness of Alfalfa

Ketometer 1 - very keto friendly

With a net carbohydrates of just about 0.2 per 100 grams, alfalfa sprouts are one of the most keto friendly foods you can get. Rich in protein, vitamin A and with just about 100 calories, alfalfa sprouts are a healthy addition to any ketogenic diet.

Other names

Feuille de Luzerne, impressive Trèfle, Herbe aux Bisons, Herbe à Vaches, Lucerne, Luzerne, Medicago, Medicago sativa, Phyoestrogen, Phyto-œstrogène, Purple Medick, Sanfoin.

Also see Supplement

Alfalfa seeds, sprouted, raw

Portion	100 g
Fiber, total dietary	1.9 g
Calcium, Ca	32 mg
Iron, Fe	0.96 mg
Vitamin A, IU	155 IU
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	8.2 mg
Protein	3.99 g
Total lipid (fat)	0.69 g
Carbohydrate, by difference	2.1 g
Energy	96 kcal
Sugars, total including NLEA	0.2 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Sodium, Na	6 mg
Fatty acids, total saturated	0.069 g

External Links

Alfalfa Production and Management Resources - Information on alfalfa cultivation and management practices.

See Also

Legume Forage crops Sprouting (food)

Further Reading

Doe, J. (2018). Alfalfa Farming: The Complete Guide to Growing and Managing Alfalfa. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. Smith, R.L., & Smith, S.N. (2017). Alfalfa: Ecology, Production and Disease Management. CABI.

External Links

University of Minnesota Extension - Alfalfa Production and Management - Comprehensive information on alfalfa production, management, and disease control. Alfalfa and Its Role in Human Health - Research article exploring the potential health benefits of alfalfa consumption.

Nutritional information on Alfalfa

NB:Carbohydrate, by difference(total carbs-fiber) is also called net carbs