What Are The Health Benefits Of Alfalfa Sprouts?

What are the health benefits of Alfalfa sprouts?  Alfalfa sprouts have been considered a medicinal herb for centuries by humans. And it was grown in countries such as South and Central Asia.

The nutrient contents of Alfalfa Sprouts are:

• Vitamin K- 8% of the Daily Value
• Vitamin C- 3% of the Daily Value
• Folate- 3% of the Daily Value
• Thiamine- 2% of the Daily Value
• Riboflavin- 3% of the Daily Value
• Magnesium- 2% of the Daily Value
• Iron- 2% of the Daily Value
• Copper-6% of the Daily Value

What are the health benefits of Alfalfa sprouts?  Photo credit: iStock- MarynaVoronova

Just one cup of Alfalfa sprout is 8 calories which means this is a good weight loss food.

Various animal studies have shown that alfalfa sprouts can lower bad cholesterol levels and total cholesterol levels. And it can also increase good cholesterol levels while decreasing the risk of heart disease. The research studies on how it can lower cholesterol levels are minimal, but it does give some potential as a possible cholesterol lower agent in humans.

Alfalfa sprouts are known to have high antioxidant properties. And animal studies have revealed that it prevents oxidative stress damage caused by free radicals. One of the plant compounds in Alfalfa sprouts is phytoestrogens which is similar to the hormone estrogen.

And what this means is that it causes the same effects that estrogen causes in the body in women. There has been some small evidence that the phytoestrogens that is in Alfalfa sprouts has some menopausal reduction symptoms.

Alfalfa sprout is relatively safe for most people, but it does have harmful effects to some people. The FDA does advise that pregnant women, children, older adults, or anyone with a compromised immune system to avoid alfalfa sprouts.

The Bottom Line is alfalfa sprouts have tremendous health benefits and have a high antioxidant effect. And it is a good weight loss food that is low in calories and high in nutrients such as Vitamin K, copper, folate, magnesium, etc.

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