One of the mechanisms involved in diabetes and elevated glucose is the decrease in cellular uptake of serum glucose. This defect in metabolism appears to involve free-radical-mediated pathology. In a review of the chemical and pharmacologic uses of alfalfa, researchers claimed that there was no significant impact of alfalfa on serum glucose levels.
Despite the wealth of valuable nutrients and metabolic compounds, there is still substantial concern about the safety of alfalfa use. Weak estrogenic effects make use of alfalfa in patients with risks for breast or uterine cancer inadvisable. Safety has not been established for use in pregnant or nursing mothers or in infants.
Also, with the known mild hypoglycemic effect, patients already taking medication for diabetes should be cautioned regarding the potential for unintentional drops in blood glucose. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.
Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Alfalfa Medicago sativa is a perennial plant belonging to the Fabaceae family that has long been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of health conditions.
It has a sweet, bitter, grassy flavor when consumed fresh in the form of sprouts. When taken as a supplement, alfalfa is thought to be beneficial in treating diabetes , high cholesterol , arthritis , urinary tract infections , menstrual problems, and an array of other disorders.
Alfalfa is a low-calorie, nutrient-dense food. Alfalfa's rich soluble fiber content may help reduce cholesterol and aid in weight loss by increasing satiety a feeling of fullness. Alfalfa also contains a number of important vitamins and minerals, including:. Beyond its dietary benefits, alfalfa is often used in alternative therapies to treat medical conditions and metabolic disorders. For the most part, the scientific evidence to support these claims is weak.
Alfalfa contains saponins, a substance thought to bind cholesterol to bile salts and reduce serum cholesterol levels. Animal studies have shown a direct association between increasing doses of alfalfa saponin extract and decreasing blood cholesterol levels in rats. Whether the same effect can be achieved in humans is uncertain. Alfalfa has been understudied as a potential treatment of hypercholesterolemia high cholesterol , and it is unclear if the same relative dose in rats can be used safely in humans.
Further research is needed. Fiber-rich foods like alfalfa may help control blood sugar by slowing the absorption of glucose in the intestines. As such, alfalfa may aid in the treatment of diabetes or prediabetes. There has been some evidence of this, albeit scant, in animal studies. A study published in Interventional Medicine and Applied Science reported that rats with chemically-induced diabetes experienced a reduction in blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides , and "bad" low-density lipoprotein LDL cholesterol after receiving an alfalfa extract for 21 days.
There was also a significant increase in the level of "good" high-density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol. At present, there is little evidence the same benefits can be achieved in humans. Further research is again needed. Alternative healthcare providers believe alfalfa acts as a natural diuretic "water pill" and can be used to treat urinary tract disorders, including renal calculi kidney stones and urinary tract infections UTIs.
Despite claims to the contrary, there is little evidence that alfalfa can help prevent or clear kidney stones, much less treat an acute urinary tract infection. Alfalfa contains phytoestrogens , plant-based hormones that mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen.
Herbalists contend alfalfa can be an effective remedy for menstrual disorders such as premenstrual syndrome PMS. There is little evidence the estrogenic effect is robust enough to be of any benefit.
There is even less evidence to support claims that alfalfa can prevent or treat menopause symptoms , osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, or breast cancer as some alternative healthcare providers claim. Alfalfa is regarded as a plant-based galactagogue, meaning it can stimulate breast milk production. Alfalfa is, in fact, one of the most popular traditional medicines used as a galactagogue alongside black seed Nigella sativa and fenugreek Trigonella foenum-graecum.
A review in the journal Procedia suggests that Medicago sativa tablets can be used safely for this purpose but provides little evidence as to how effective the treatment may be or what dose is needed. A number of test-tube studies have reported that alfalfa exerts potent anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing the production of inflammatory compounds known as cytokines. Some alternative healthcare providers believe this effect can reduce pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
Alfalfa is, in fact, one of the more popular ingredients used in herbal arthritis remedies. To date, these benefits remain largely unproven. With rheumatoid arthritis particularly, the underlying cause of inflammation is autoimmune meaning the body's own immune cells attack healthy joints. Alfalfa in no way alters this action.
It was long prized for its superior content of vitamins, minerals, and protein compared to other feed sources 1. It seems to have originally come from South and Central Asia, but it has been grown around the world for centuries. Its seeds or dried leaves can be taken as a supplement, or the seeds can be sprouted and eaten in the form of alfalfa sprouts. Because the leaves or seeds are sold as herbal supplements and not as foods, no standard nutrition information is available.
However, they are typically a fair source of vitamin K and also contain many other nutrients, including vitamin C, copper, manganese, and folate. For example, 1 cup 33 grams of alfalfa sprouts contains a mere 8 calories. It also contains the following 2 :. Alfalfa also has a high content of bioactive plant compounds, including saponins, coumarins, flavonoids, phytosterols, phytoestrogens, and alkaloids 1.
Alfalfa contains vitamin K and small amounts of many other vitamins and minerals. It is also high in many bioactive plant compounds. Numerous animal studies have shown that it can lower total cholesterol, LDL bad cholesterol, and triglyceride levels while increasing HDL good cholesterol — which may decrease heart disease risk 3 , 4 , 5. The cholesterol-lowering effect of alfalfa is attributed to its high content of saponins, which are plant compounds known to lower cholesterol levels 6.
They do this by decreasing the absorption of cholesterol in the gut and increasing the excretion of compounds used to create new cholesterol 6.
While more research in humans is needed, current studies show promise for alfalfa as a potential cholesterol-lowering agent. Alfalfa has been shown to decrease cholesterol levels in animal studies. This is probably because it contains plant compounds called saponins.
They include lowering blood pressure, acting as a diuretic, increasing breast milk production, treating arthritis, and getting rid of kidney stones. Most of these proposed health benefits have not yet been researched. However, a few of them have been studied to some extent. Several animal studies have found that alfalfa appears to improve cardiometabolic health by decreasing blood fat and blood sugar levels 3 , 4 , 6 , 7. However, while these findings are promising, more studies are needed to determine whether alfalfa would have the same effects in humans.
Alfalfa is high in plant compounds called phytoestrogens, which are chemically similar to the hormone estrogen 8. Phytoestrogens are controversial, but they may have several benefits, including easing menopausal symptoms that are caused by decreased levels of estrogen.
Alfalfa is a legume and contains lectins, which are mainly concentrated in the seeds. Normally, sprouting seeds helps to break down lectins. But in the case of alfalfa, it seems sprouting actually increases the lectin content. Alfalfa contains other antinutrients as well. Alfalfa may interact with certain drugs. These include [ 49 ]:. Few human studies on alfalfa exist, most of which are low-quality. A higher level of evidence supports its benefits for lowering cholesterol and improving menopausal symptoms.
In animal studies, alfalfa improved diabetes, lowered inflammation and protected the heart, but these findings may not translate to humans. You can easily grow your own alfalfa sprouts at home.
All you need is some alfalfa seeds, water, a jar, and a breathable lid to cover it. The lid can be from gauze, cheesecloth, a pantyhose or a screw-on lid with holes. Follow these steps:. Some of these include:. There is no safe and effective dose of alfalfa or its extracts because no sufficiently powered study has been conducted to find one. The British Herbal Medical Association recommends [ 1 ]:. Alfalfa honey is less sweet than others. It has a delicate, mild, and pleasantly sweet taste.
Raw, unprocessed honey is naturally antiseptic and antibacterial [ 51 ]. Alfalfa honey is prebiotic , meaning that it may encourage the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. In one study, alfalfa honey enhanced the growth of five human Bifidobacterium species, including B. Alfalfa honey retains many of the antioxidant compounds from the plant.
But this is the case with many other honey types. The exact active compounds in alfalfa honey will vary from one manufacturer and geographical location to the next.
One analysis compared alfalfa and clover honey: clover had 19 antioxidant phenolic compounds, while alfalfa had only Only clover honey contained genistein, quercetin, and caffeic acid. Others, such as daidzin, were up to 10 times more concentrated in clover honey.
Gallic acid was found in only alfalfa honey and not in clover [ 53 ]. Alfalfa is an ancient herb that has been used medicinally for millennia. It is a rich source of vitamin K, flavonoids, and phytoestrogens.
It is most often used to lower cholesterol and blood sugar, fight oxidative stress, and ease menopausal symptoms. The use of alfalfa is not entirely risk-free, as the herb has strong immune-stimulant potential. The seeds contain lectins and may be contaminated with bacteria. Always heat the seeds before use, or avoid them entirely.
0コメント