What are the Health Benefits of Alfalfa and Does it Contain Vitamin B17?

View PDF | Print View
by: Darrell Miller
Total views: 39
Word Count: 565
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 Time: 11:00 AM
0 comments

Alfalfa is the most widespread of all legumes in terms of cultivation. It has been grown as forage for livestock raised in pasture, but for centuries it has also been a source of food for many communities in Europe, Asia, and even America. It has been noted for its high levels of nutrients of late, including protein, fiber, calcium, and amygdalin, dubbed Vitamin B17, among others. In addition to the growing popularity of its culinary uses, alfalfa is not made available as a dietary supplement, which has been also been reported to have therapeutic effects on autoimmune diseases, such as asthma and dermatitis, and many different inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis.

Medicago sativa, the species of alfalfa widely grown today, has been around for over a thousand years in many continents, but the plant is indigenous to the Caucasus, Persia, in the modern day Iran, and Anatolia, or Asia Minor. It spread as far as China in the East during the ancient times, and reached continental America in the 16th century. Today it is an ingredient in sandwiches and salads while its use in teas is not uncommon.

It is called Zimu in China, and is an important herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, being listed as a therapeutic remedy against diseases of the kidney and the intestine as well as a source of food known to improve circulation. In Ayurvedic medicine in India, it is widely used to cleanse the stomach as a way to treat all sorts of digestive problems, like indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, and even ulcers.

Contains Essential Nutrients

The recent buzz around the use of alfalfa as a dietary supplement is due to the fact that it contains high levels of many different vitamins and minerals. For one, it has shown to be abundant in B vitamins, notably thiamine, or vitamin B1, pyridoxine, or vitamin B6, cobalamin, or vitamin B12, amygdalin, or what we refer to as Vitamin B7, and the fat-soluble vitamins E and K.

Lowers Cholesterol

Alfalfa is known to have phytochemicals that are important in reducing the levels of cholesterol released into the bloodstream. These organic compounds work on the principle of blocking the metabolic pathway that governs the production of low-density lipoproteins, or what is now identified as bad cholesterol while increasing the levels of high-density lipoproteins, or good cholesterol.

Aids Digestion

Various preparations of alfalfa have long been used to alleviate abdominal pains associated with poor digestion and related digestive illnesses. This use has been well documented in the East, especially in China and India.

Affects Inflammation

Tea made from alfalfa has also been tied to aid inflammatory ailments of the joints, as is the case with most types of arthritis. There are studies well underway that looks into how exactly it helps improve the quality of life of patients with arthritis with its analgesic properties.

Alfalfa is one of the healthiest foods, and the scientific community is convinced that it is a good source of many nutrients with established daily value.

You can find alfalfa at your local or internet vitamin store. Always choose name brands like Source Naturals to ensure quality and purity of what you buy for getter health and wellness.

About the Author

If you need an Antioxidant boost from alfalfa, give alfalfa leaf a try risk free at VitaNet ®, LLC Vitamin Store. http://vitanetonline.com/