The leaves, stems, seeds and shoots of the alfalfa plant have been used historically for their many health-enhancing properties. The leaves of adult alfalfa plants are not generally palatable; their coarse texture makes them unsuitable for use in food. However, alfalfa sprouts provide all of alfalfa’s medicinal properties and health benefits, and they are easy to incorporate into a healthy diet.
If you are interested in the health benefits of alfalfa sprouts, consider integrating them into everyday foods such as salads, wraps and sandwiches. Although alfalfa sprouts may be useful for treating several medical conditions, note that there is insufficient evidence to provide their efficacy. Consult your health care provider before making any radical changes to your diet or taking any nutritional supplement.
Dietary Protein
Alfalfa sprouts are a surprisingly potent source of dietary protein. Raw-foodists frequently turn to alfalfa sprouts as a tasty, vegan, uncooked alternative to conventional protein sources. Each serving of alfalfa sprout contains a full three grams of protein, making it one of the world’s most reliable raw, vegan sources of this critical macronutrient.
Digestive Support
If you suffer from digestive conditions such as diverticular disease or chronic constipation, alfalfa sprouts may help to ease some of your symptoms. A serving of alfalfa sprouts contains roughly one gram of fiber, which is three percent of an average adult’s daily need. Try including alfalfa sprouts in your daily diet to improve your digestive regularity.
If you are trying to lose weight, alfalfa sprouts may be a healthy, flavorful alternative to stimulant diet pills. With only 8 calories per 33-gram serving, alfalfa sprouts are an ideal low-calorie condiment. Alfalfa sprouts contain no notable sugar, fat, saturated fat or cholesterol. Because this crunchy food is loaded with fiber and protein, it can help to prolong feelings of fullness after a large meal.
Cholesterol Reduction
Compounds in alfalfa sprout may help to reduce both total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol, without affecting high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good”) cholesterol levels. Although preliminary studies are promising, no large-scale clinical trials have evaluated these findings. If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, consult your health care provider about the benefits of alfalfa sprouts as part of a low-fat, heart-healthy diet.
Atherosclerosis Treatment
In addition to reducing total and LDL cholesterol, alfalfa sprouts may help to prevent and treat atherosclerosis, or cholesterol plaques in the heart arteries. This serious cardiovascular disease can lead to fatal complications, so it is important to abide by your health care provider’s treatment recommendations. In addition to dietary modifications and the potential use of medication, your health care provider may recommend eating alfalfa sprouts and other heart-friendly foods.
Diabetes Support
Diabetic animals experience a slight but notable decline in blood-glucose levels after eating alfalfa sprouts, according to the National Institutes of Health. Human studies have not replicated these findings, but preliminary evidence suggests that alfalfa sprouts can act as a healthy complementary treatment for type 2 diabetes. Because it contains no sugar and has a glycemic load of 0, alfalfa sprout is a diabetes-friendly snack associated with no serious health risks to people with hyperglycemia.
B Vitamins
Raw-foodists may turn to alfalfa sprouts in lieu of processed sources of B-vitamins. B-vitamins, which are water-soluble, are essential for neurological health and energy production, and may be used as alternative treatments for medical conditions including depression and chronic fatigue. Alfalfa sprouts are regarded as a good source of folate, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, niacin and thiamin. Contrary to popular misconceptions, no sprouts contain vitamin B12.
Blood Health
Alfalfa sprouts are one of the most concentrated sources of vitamin K found in nature. Vitamin K is essential for normal platelet function; it helps to prevent excessive bleeding and bruising. Each serving of alfalfa sprouts will provide nearly one-eighth of your daily requirement. Consult your health care provider before eating alfalfa sprouts if you take anticoagulants (blood-thinners) such as warfarin; the plant’s vitamin K content may compromise the effectiveness of the drug.
Resources Used
NutritionData- Alfalfa Sprouts
National Institutes of Health- Alfalfa
