Super Food Highlight: Benefits of Alfalfa

benefits-of-alfalfa

 

    Since I am such a food freakazoid, I try to circle out greens that I focus on each week to use in recipes, and this week it’s Alfalfa! One of my favorite salad topping and smoothie ingredient is this super food.  I sprout alfalfa quite regularly and try to incorporate it as much as possible in my meal plan so that I can enjoy its benefits.

Did you know that alfalfa starts out as a legume? We typically see alfalfa already sprouted in stores, but you can also buy the seeds and do it yourself at home.  For recipe ideas, I love putting alfalfa sprouts in  avocado wraps (avocado, alfalfa, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, wrapped in romaine lettuce), and in my Asian salads (shredded kale, alfalfa, shredded carrots, zucchini, sesame seed oil, nori flakes and a tsp of miso paste). This sprout also has some pretty great health benefits as well:

 

Benefits of Alfalfa

  • Contains Vitamin A, C & K
  • Is known as a tonic to flush toxins from the body
  • Has minerals such as iron, calcium and magnesium
  • Packed with phytoestrogens which are plant compounds that some believe help fight cancer and heart disease
  • Super low in calories
  • May lower cholesterol from the compound saponin found in the plant

   There are some side effects to using alfalfa in larger quantities, so if you are pregnant, have a hormone sensitive condition or have an autoimmune disease, you should consult your physician before taking any alfalfa supplements.  Other side effects and how it can interfere with specific medications can be found here.

benefits-of-alfalfa

 

 If you are still curious about alfalfa sprouts and want to include another green super food into your smoothies, we are giving away one jar of Alfalfa powder from PINES Wheat Grass! PINES carries multiple products of green super food supplements such as beet juice powder, barley grass powder, and of course, wheat grass. I’ve been using my alfalfa powder in my smoothies and juices for an extra boost, and am excited to try it out in other recipes too! In order to enter in the giveaway you must be in the U.S, over 18 yo, and must not use a P.O box for your address. Terms are located in the widget!

   

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 Disclaimer: PINES Wheat Grass sent me complimentary samples of alfalfa powder. All thoughts, writings, creative direction and information is my own. This post should not be taken as medical advice. It is important to consult your physician before taking any sort of new supplement.

Photo Sources: (Main) (Alfalfa Powder)

 

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