Alfalfa sprouts are popular among natural food shoppers. In addition to
sprouts, alfalfa is also available as tablets. The medicinal benefits of alfalfa
are poorly understood. Alfalfa leaves contain approximately 2–3%
saponins. Alfalfa is the most important forage crop in the United States,
accounting for almost half of all the hay produced. Alfalfa contains
phytoestrogens and
antioxidants.
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Nature's Way Alfalfa Leaves, 405 mg

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
has a deep root system which pulls valuable minerals from
the soil. With the aid of sunlight, nutrients including beta carotene and
chlorophyll are made available to the body in a usable form. Nature's Way
sources tender young plants to supply a high portion of supple leaves and
to avoid the inclusion of woody stems.
Nature's Way Alfalfa is Organically Grown by Trout Lake Farm, Washington,
and Certified Organically Processed in accordance with Oregon Tilth
standards and the California Organic Foods Act of 1990. A rich natural source of chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals and
protein. Alfalfa's deep root system pulls these valuable minerals from the
soil.
Alfalfa Supplement Facts
Amount Per 3 capsule:
Alfalfa (leaf) 1,220 grams *
Recommendation: As an addition to the daily diet, take 1 to 3 alfalfa
capsules 1 or 2 times daily, preferably with food. Other healthy
supplements to consider include
curcumin,
acai berry,
pomegranate,
Cacao,
and
noni.
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Research updates on alfalfa sprouts or health benefit of alfalfa
tablets or supplements, or side effects of alfalfa supplement will be
mentioned if such studies are published.
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Health Benefit of Alfalfa Herb
Little human research has been done with alfalfa supplements in human
health and disease. Therefore the health benefit of alfalfa sprouts or alfalfa
supplements are not well known. One study found alfalfa and sage together were
helpful in reducing symptoms of menopause, but we need several such studies to
confirm these findings. If we do come across any research regarding alfalfa
health benefit, we will mention it in the newsletter.
Alfalfa Side Effects
Since little research has been done in humans regarding the influence of
alfalfa ingestion and health, we really don't know the long term benefits or
side effects of alfalfa use. Thus far, there have not been any alfalfa side
effects reported in the medical literature.
Availability of Alfalfa herb
products
You can find alfalfa as a tablet, capsule, in tea form, and of course as
alfalfa sprouts. Alfalfa powder and alfalfa juice are also sold. Seed growers
sell alfalfa seeds. Ortganic alfalfa is preferable to ingest whenever possible.
Alfalfa Plant Research Update
Evaluation of the estrogenic effects of legume extracts containing
phytoestrogens.
J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Apr 9;51(8):2193-9.
Seven legume extracts containing phytoestrogens were analyzed for
estrogen
activity. Methanol extracts were prepared from soybean (Glycine max L.), green
bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), alfalfa sprout (Medicago sativa L.), mung bean
sprout (Vigna radiata L.), kudzu root (Pueraria lobata L.), and
red clover
blossom and red clover sprout (Trifolium pratense L.). Extracts of kudzu root
and red clover blossom showed significant competitive binding to estrogen
receptor beta (ERbeta). Estrogenic activity was determined using an
estrogen-dependent MCF-7 breast cancer cell proliferation assay. Kudzu root, red
clover blossom and sprout, mung bean sprout, and alfalfa sprout extracts
displayed increased cell proliferation above levels observed with estradiol. The
pure estrogen antagonist, ICI 182,780, suppressed cell proliferation induced by
the extracts, suggesting an ER-related signaling pathway was involved. The ER
subtype-selective activities of legume extracts were examined using transiently
transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells. All seven of the extracts
exhibited preferential agonist activity toward ERbeta. Using HPLC to collect
fractions and MCF-7 cell proliferation, the active components in kudzu root
extract were determined to be the isoflavones puerarin, daidzin, genistin,
daidzein, and
genistein. These results show that several legumes are a source of phytoestrogens with high levels of estrogenic activity.
Soy and alfalfa phytoestrogen extracts become potent low-density lipoprotein
antioxidants in the presence of
acerola cherry extract.
J Agric Food Chem. 2001 Jan;49(1):308-14.
Postmenopausal women have an increased risk of coronary heart disease. Oxidation
of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been implicated in atherogenesis, and the
presence of modified LDL (LDL(-)) in plasma appears to represent LDL oxidation
in vivo. Because previous studies have demonstrated a strong antiatherogenic
effect of estrogen due to its antioxidant activity and similar antioxidant
activity was found for specific isoflavones derived from soy extract, the
antioxidant activity of a phytoestrogen extract derived from soy and alfalfa was
studied. Copper-mediated LDL oxidation was inhibited in the presence of soy and
alfalfa extracts, and this effect was further enhanced in the presence of
acerola cherry extract, which is rich in
ascorbic acid. Male rabbit aortic
endothelial cells pretreated with soy extract were resistant to the toxic
effects of high levels of LDL and LDL(-), and a lesser, but significant
protection, was also afforded by alfalfa extract. Cell-mediated oxidation of LDL,
measured by LDL(-) formation, was inhibited in the presence of soy extract but
not alfalfa extract. However, in the presence of acerola cherry extract, both
soy and alfalfa extracts potently inhibited the formation of LDL(-). These
findings show that acerola cherry extract can enhance the antioxidant activity
of soy and alfalfa extracts in a variety of LDL oxidation systems. The
protective effect of these extracts is attributed to the presence of
flavonoids
in soy and alfalfa extracts and ascorbic acid in acerola cherry extract, which
may act synergistically as antioxidants. It is postulated that this synergistic
interaction among phytoestrogens, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid is due to the "peroxidolitic"
action of ascorbic acid, which facilitates the copper-dependent decomposition of
LDL peroxides to nonradical products; this synergy is complemented by a
mechanism in which phytoestrogens stabilize the LDL structure and suppress the
propagation of radical chain reactions. The combination of these extracts
markedly lowers the concentrations of phytoestrogens required to achieve
significant antioxidant activity toward LDL.
[Treatment of neurovegetative menopausal symptoms with
a phytotherapeutic agent]
Minerva Ginecol. 1998 May;50(5):207-11. Istituto di Ginecologia e Ostetricia,
Universita degli Studi-Siena.
Menopausal symptoms include hot flushes, insomnia, nocturnal sweating,
dizziness, headaches and palpitations. These symptoms reflect adaptation of the
body to estrogen deprivation which affects various central neurotransmitters.
METHODS: In this study, the efficacy has been tested of a plant product based on
extracts of the leaves of Salvia officinalis (sage) and Medicago sativa
(alfalfa) in the treatment of hot flushes in 30 menopausal women with these
symptoms. RESULTS: Hot flushes and night sweating completely disappeared in 20
women: four women showed good improvement and the other six showed a reduction
in symptoms. GnRH and TRH tests were performed in 8 women to evaluate TSH and
Prl responses before and after 3 months of therapy. The plants product induced a
significant increase in Prl and TSH response to TRH. Basal levels of estradiol,
LH, FSH, Prl and TSH were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Alfalfa and sage seem to have
a central slight antidopaminergic action without side effects and appear to be
an effective combination in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.
Genetically Modified Alfalfa
A coalition of farmers, consumers and environmental activists sued the
U.S. government in February, 2006, over its approval of a biotech alfalfa that
critics say will harm farmers and the environment. Opening another front in the
battle over genetically modified crops, the lawsuit contends that the U.S.
Department of Agriculture improperly is allowing Monsanto Co. to sell an
herbicide-resistant alfalfa seed while failing to analyze the public health,
environmental, and economic consequences of that action.
The lawsuit asks the federal court to rescind the USDA's decision until a full
environmental review has been completed. The suit aleges that the genetically
modified alfalfa will probably contaminate conventionally grown alfalfa at a
fast pace, ultimately forcing farmers to pay for Monsanto's patented gene
technology whether they want the technology or not.
Alfalfa Questions
Q. Can an alfalfa supplement be taken the same day as ahcc,
mangosteen, goji,
lyprinol extract,
saw palmetto herb or
graviola?
A. I have not come across any research that would
preclude the use of alfalfa with the supplements.
Q. Is it okay to eat an alfalfa seed? Are alfalfa seeds
edible?
A. Good question. I don't know. Alfalfa sprouts are
certainly edible, so I don't see why the alfalfa seeds would not be.
Q. Is it okay to eat alfalfa sprouts daily?
A. Alfalfa sprouts are a healthy snack, and there is no
indication that eating alfalfa sprouts on daily basis would lead to harm,
however, just like any supplement or food, it is best to take a break from use
just in case your body does not tolerate a particular chemical or substance in
the food.
Q. I happened to find one of your e-mail newsletters
and looked up "alfalfa" in your hot-links page to see if you recommend it and
whether you are aware of the potential dangers of consuming (large quantities of
alfalfa sprouts. I myself only came across the information about the harmful
substance canavanine being present in alfalfa seeds and sprouts very recently
and was consuming several pounds of home-grown alfalfa sprouts every month, and
have just stopped. Max Gerson www.Gerson.org already in the 1950's became aware
of the harmful effect of alfalfa sprouts on his recovered cancer patients whose
cancer came back when they were transferred to another clinic where they were
given lots of alfalfa sprouts, so Max Gerson made the patients aware of this
need to avoid alfalfa sprouts. This is very specifically written about in a 1986
newsletter that I happened to order from the www.Gerson.org website, with the
headline on the cover of the publication. Incidentally, when looking up
canavanine on the web I came across information that the canavanine is only
present in the seeds and sprouts of alfalfa and not in the adult alfalfa plant,
so tablets and capsules of adult alfalfa should not contain any canavanine, and,
important for me since I am a broccoli fan, broccoli sprouts do not contain
canavanine. On Google.com I found lots of reference articles and books available
on the topic but I have yet to decide to bite the bullet and order the 600-page
book that details all the toxic substances found in the food we eat which
unfortunately sells for $160.-USD. Wishing you lots of luck in helping as many
people as possible to achieve optimal health, from Prague.
A. Apparently there has been an association of SLE and alfalfa in a
volunteer who developed lupus-like autoimmunity while ingesting alfalfa seed for
a cholesterol study. Monkeys fed alfalfa sprouts developed SLE. This is one more
reason to consume a diet with a wide variety of foods in order to minimize
potential exposure to high doses of toxins. L-canavanine, present in alfalfa
sprouts can be charged by arginyl tRNA synthetase to replace L-arginine during
protein synthesis. Aberrant canavanyl proteins disrupt protein function.
Systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndrome in monkeys
fed alfalfa sprouts: role of a nonprotein amino acid.
Science. 1982 Apr 23;216(4544):415-7. Hematologic and serologic abnormalities
similar to those observed in human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) developed
in cynomolgus macaques fed alfalfa sprouts. L-Canavanine sulfate, a constituent
of alfalfa sprouts, was incorporated into the diet and reactivated the syndrome
in monkeys in which an SLE-like syndrome had previously been induced by the
ingestion of alfalfa seeds or sprouts.
Q. Is it okay to use an alfalfa supplement
daily with a week off each month?
A. An alfalfa supplement has many nutrients, vitamins, chlorophyl, and other compounds.
Alfalfa appears to be safe used daily with the occasional breaks as you
mention..