Hey! Have you ever been wondered to see a sprouted plant in the cooler of a grocery store? Commonly, this wondrous vegetable is known as Alfalfa Sprout, while its scientific name is Medicago Sativa. It is actually a legume that belongs to the Fabaceae family. Now, you surely would be eager and keen to know more about it. You might be wondering about the nutrition facts and health benefits of Alfalfa Sprouts. But before discussing the nutrients of Alfalfa Sprouts in depth, let’s have a look at its structure.
Alfalfa Sprout or Alfalfa Grass is actually an immature shoot coming from alfalfa seeds. These are thin thread-like white structures having dainty green tops. Alfalfa or Lucerne is a hero in both the kitchen and garden. Alfalfa sprouts grow quickly and need just three to five days for germination. The interesting thing to note is that they can be grown in a tray or a glass jar indoors and are great fun for someone fond of gardening. Being rich in protein and other nutrients, Alfalfa Sprouts is widely used in salads and sandwiches to give them a crunchy and nutty taste.
Nutrition Facts Of Alfalfa Sprouts:
When it comes to the nutrition facts and values, Alfalfa Sprouts is the king without any uncertainty. According to the USDA Nutrition Database, One Hundred Grams of Alfalfa Sprouts contains 23kcal Energy, 3.99g Protein, 0.69g Fat, 2.1g Carbohydrates, 1.9g Fiber, and 0.2g Sugar. In terms of minerals, it contains 32mg Calcium, 0.96mg Iron, 27mg Magnesium, 70mg Phosphorus, 79mg Potassium, 6mg Sodium, 0.92mg Zinc, 0.157mg Copper, and 0.6µg Selenium. As far as Vitamins are concerned, it is packed with 8.2mg Vitamin C, 0.076mg Thiamin, 0.126mg Riboflavin, 0.481mg Niacin, 0.034mg Vitamin B-6, 36µg Folate, 14.4mg Choline, 87µg Beta Carotene, 6µg Alpha Carotene, 6µg Beta Cryptoxanthin, 0.02mg Vitamin E, and 30.5µg Vitamin K. Lastly, it bears 0.069g Saturated Fatty Acids, 0.056g Monounsaturated Fatty Acids, and 0.409g Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids.
Health Benefits Of Alfalfa Sprouts:
The wait is finally over, guys! Following are the amazing health benefits of Alfalfa Sprouts:
1- Lowers Cholesterol Level:
The high content of dietary fibers in Alfalfa Sprout makes it effective to fight against cholesterol. Actually, fiber attaches to cholesterol and prevent it from blocking the arterial walls. This also helps to maintain a good cholesterol level in our body. So, eat Alfalfa and stay away from dangerous heart attacks, atherosclerosis, and strokes.
2- Reduces Inflammation:
Alfalfa Sprouts contain an enormous amount of Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Calcium, and Antioxidant compounds. All of these nutrients not only reduce inflammation around the joints but also the whole body inflammation. These nutrients in Alfalfa Sprout strengthen our immunity and hamper the development of chronic disease and oxidative stress.
3- Improves Bowel Movements:
When it comes to the amelioration of our digestive health, nothing is better than dietary fibers. It bulks up stool and speeds up its movement through bowel. Alfalfa Sprout clears all the issues of indigestion including bloating, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, and bacterial imbalance in the gut flora as its dietary fibers reduce the inflammation of the gut.
4- Speeds Up Healing:
Alfalfa prevents infection speeds up the healing process when you apply it to the wounds and injuries. Its Antioxidant components protect the exposed area while other nutrients stimulate blood flow to the area of infection which increases the speed of healing. Alfalfa contributes towards healthy growth and better development on top of an increase in the rate of repair.
5- Boosts Immune System:
Do you want to make your body’s defense system strong? You are definitely in the right place. Because Alfalfa Sprouts contain a high content of Vitamin C which is a perfect immunity booster. It stimulates the production of white blood cells and also terminates the oxidative stress by acting as an antioxidant. Furthermore, vitamin B and E regulate metabolism and act as antioxidant compounds in the body.
6- Detoxifies The Body:
The high content of water and salts in Alfalfa makes it a plant with excellent detoxifying properties. Its consumption causes frequent urination and speeds up detoxification. It is used all around the world for the treatment of kidney dysfunctions due to its diuretic properties.
7- Anti-Cancer Potential:
Alfalfa Sprouts with all its nutrients is used to treat a wide variety of ailments. However, a few studies have demonstrated its anti-cancer effects as well. Alfalfa leaves extracts have the power to fight deadly tumor cells and cure cancer. So, you do not need to pay much heed towards the tittle-tattle about cancer as an incurable disorder because Alfalfa is here.
8- Improved Metabolic Health:
Alfalfa Sprout can treat hyperglycemia according to a piece of research on mice. In a study of diabetic animals, Alfalfa reduced the blood sugar level of diabetic animals. Alfalfa has lesser side effects in comparison to insulin and hypoglycemic drugs, which are the primary treatment for diabetes. However, there isn’t any research on humans to prove its impact on reducing blood glucose in humans. Anyways, you can still use Alfalfa Sprouts for its several other health benefits.
9- Shiny Hair:
The consumption of sprout brings a luster and shine in hair. Alfalfa sprouts contain Omega-3 fatty acids, which nourish the hair follicles. It combats dry and brittle hair, flaky scales, and reverses hair loss.
CAUTIONS:
Though this plant is full of nutrients and its nutrition values make it worth consuming, there are quite a few cautions that must be taken into consideration before the consumption of Alfalfa Sprouts.
- The growing environment of Alfalfa Sprouts is ideal for the growth of bacteria as well. So, its consumption may cause certain bacterial disorders. Therefore, young children, pregnant women, nursing women, elderly, and people with a weak immune system should avoid its consumption.
- There are some reports of people suffering from infections like listeria and salmonella after taking Alfalfa.
CONCLUSION:
Many people around the world trust these tiny sprouts as they treat plenty of disorders, including cancer and diabetes, which are spreading at quite a faster rate. As in general, Alfalfa Sprouts is an excellent vegetable thanks to its low-calorie count, nutrition values, and health benefits. It contains several healthy nutrients with the minimum amount of calories. So those starving for weight loss can choose to add up Alfalfa in their bucket as it does not add up much to your calorie intake. So, you can eat and still stay slim. Isn’t that a good thing? It is indeed an all in one package, and you should include it in your daily diet!
1 comment
Great content! Super high-quality! Keep it up! 🙂