How to Use Alfalfa for Health

Alfalfa is ordinarily thought of as something fed to horses other than alfalfa sprouts found in healthy sandwiches and salads. Alfalfa is, however, full of nutritious goodies such as chlorophyll, minerals, protein, vitamins B, C, K, U and E as well as beta-carotene. If you like spouts, it’s a healthy way of adding these nutrients into your diet. If not, you can take it in supplemental form, usually capsules.

Instructions

• 1

  Take alfalfa for high cholesterol. Studies have shown this nutrient to be beneficial in lowering LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and improving the ratio between LDL and HDL cholesterol. Interestingly, the fibers in alfalfa stick to cholesterol, pulling it through the blood stream and keeping it from attaching itself to the walls of blood vessels. An added bonus is that it seems to bypass HDL.

• 2

  See better with alfalfa consumption. Because alfalfa contains vitamin A, it is a good supplement for eye health, especially night vision. Vitamin A also promotes a resistance to infections and healthy skin.

• 3

  Eat alfalfa for a good protein source. Whether you are vegetarian or not, the protein in alfalfa is comprised of 18.9 percent. Beef is 16.5 percent, eggs are 13.1 percent and milk only 3.3 percent. When the body doesn’t get enough protein, the muscles suffer as they are composed of protein. With such a deficiency the body becomes tired and weak.

• 4

  Digest your food better with the help of alfalfa. The chlorophyll, enzymes, minerals and vitamins contained in alfalfa all work as digestive aids. They also stimulate the appetite.

• 5

  Cure your peptic ulcer with alfalfa. This nutrient contains vitamin U, which is found in green vegetables. A study done at Stanford University cured 80 percent of the patients suffering from peptic ulcers with vitamin U. Therefore, alfalfa is a good treatment choice for colitis, gastritis and other intestinal tract ailments.