Alfalfa, (Medicago sativa), also called
lucerne or purple medic
, perennial, cloverlike, leguminous plant of the pea family (Fabaceae), widely grown primarily for hay, pasturage, and silage. Alfalfa is known for its tolerance of drought, heat, and cold and for the remarkable productivity and quality of its herbage.
What’s another word for alfalfa?
In this page you can discover 17 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for alfalfa, like:
fenugreek
, fodder, legume, hay, lucerne, Medicago sativa, cowpea, brassicas, cruciferous, triticale and leguminous.
What is called alfalfa?
Alfalfa, (Medicago sativa), also called
lucerne or purple medic
, perennial, cloverlike, leguminous plant of the pea family (Fabaceae), widely grown primarily for hay, pasturage, and silage. Alfalfa is known for its tolerance of drought, heat, and cold and for the remarkable productivity and quality of its herbage.
What is the meaning of alfalfa grass?
Noun(1)
important European leguminous forage plant with trifoliate leaves and blue-violet flowers grown widely as a pasture and hay crop
(2) leguminous plant grown for hay or forage.
What is the benefit of alfalfa?
Alfalfa is a fiber-rich food and may
help to control blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of glucose into the intestines
. As a result, it may help to control diabetes and prediabetes. Plant compounds called saponins lower the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines.
What are the side effects of alfalfa?
Possible Side Effects. Alfalfa sprouts are considered safe and nutritious but may cause side effects in some people. Due to its high fiber content, consuming raw alfalfa can cause
gas, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea
.
How do you identify alfalfa?
Yellow to greenish-yellow, browning with age. Alfalfa seeds are darker than Yellow sweetclover. Important Identifying Characteristics:
Purple flowers, long narrow leaf with serrated tip
.
Can humans eat alfalfa hay?
Cows eat alfalfa hay as part of their diet.
Humans cannot digest alfalfa hay
like cows can. … While humans eat alfalfa sprouts on salads or sandwiches, most alfalfa goes to feed animals. Humans cannot digest most of the alfalfa plant, but we can digest milk from cows that eat alfalfa.
How can you tell the difference between alfalfa and grass hay?
One of the biggest differences between alfalfa hay and grass hay is
the protein content
. On average, alfalfa hay has much higher levels of protein, ranging from 15% to 21% depending on when the alfalfa was cut. This is much higher than the protein levels of grass hay, which typically contains 10% or less protein.
Is alfalfa good for liver?
Alfalfa causes reduction in cholesterol synthesis by saponins
, and it can reform membrane of liver cells, thus, inhibiting leaking of liver enzymes. High dose of manganese in alfalfa and increased insulin resulted to decrease of blood glucose.
Does alfalfa make your hair grow?
Hair loss has been linked to a deficiency in iron, and zinc helps stimulate new hair growth by boosting your immunity. Alfalfa also contains
silica
, a nutrient which slows down baldness and hair loss. Silica may even help grow new hair as well.
How much alfalfa should you take a day?
For those without contraindications who wish to use alfalfa as a supplement, a typical recommended dose is
5 to 10 grams steeped as a tea and used three times daily
. Alfalfa can be found in many forms from seeds and fresh sprouts to dried leaves and powder. Alfalfa tea is a popular form of the plant.
Does alfalfa make you poop?
In a 2017 study , healthy people ate either 20 g of raw broccoli sprouts or 20 g of alfalfa sprouts every day for 4 weeks. The researchers found that the people who ate broccoli sprouts had fewer symptoms of constipation and
quicker bowel movements
.
Is alfalfa good for thyroid?
The leaves and seeds of this widely used food crop are thought to have
diuretic properties
, to be effective against diabetes, thyroid gland malfunction, arthritis, high cholesterol, and peptic ulcers
( 1 )
, and to promote menstruation and lactation
( 2 )
. Alfalfa is also a popular treatment for asthma and hay fever
( 2 )
.
Can you be allergic to alfalfa?
Regardless of its medicinal uses,
alfalfa can still elicit an allergic reaction in some
. Sensitivities to the plant are not common, but if you’re allergic to other plant foods, you should consume alfalfa cautiously. Allergic reactions to the plant could vary from eyes and lungs to gastrointestinal distress.
How do you eat alfalfa?
Another way to add alfalfa to your diet is by eating
it as sprouts
. Alfalfa sprouts can be added to your diet in many ways, such as in a sandwich or mixed into a salad. You can buy these at health food stores or sprout them at home.
