Improving your health with alfalfa sprouts

Friday, October 25, 2013 by: Sandeep Godiyal
Tags: alfalfa sprouts, health improvement, nutritious vegetables

(NaturalNews) Alfalfa sprouts are perhaps one of the most popular sprouts worldwide. They are easy to cultivate; in fact, many people sprout alfalfa seeds at home. They are a great addition to sandwiches and salads, and besides being a delicious nutty tasting vegetable, alfalfa sprouts also have a myriad of health-enhancing benefits.

Some of alfalfa's benefits include:

• Cancer Prevention Properties:

Alfalfa sprouts are rich in canavanine, an amino acid analog known to be beneficial in fighting leukemia, pancreatic and colon cancer as well as fibrocystic breast tumors.

• Lowering Bad Cholesterol Levels:

Alfalfa sprouts are rich in saponins, a chemical compound believed to help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels while maintaining good cholesterol (HDL) levels.

• Improving Heart Health:

Saponins are also believed to reduce atherosclerosis (the hardening of the arteries) and other cardiovascular diseases due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

• Anti-Inflammatory Properties:

The anti-inflammatory properties of saponins are believed to help prevent strokes, reduce the inflammatory process in arthritis and lower chronic inflammatory disorders.

• Rich in Antioxidants:

Alfalfa sprouts are known to be one of the vegetables with the highest amount of antioxidants. Antioxidants are crucial in boosting the immune system as well as fighting free radicals. Antioxidants have long been known to lower the rate of cancer, stroke and heart disease.

• Immune System Booster:

Studies have shown that saponins also play a role in the immune system by boosting the activity of natural killer cells, T-lymphocytes and interferons.

• Weight-Loss Properties:

Alfalfa sprouts not only taste delicious but are also low in calories. They are rich in protein and fiber, making this vegetable a great alternative to greasy, fatty foods, which means it can help efforts to lose and control weight.

• Improving Bone Health:

Estrogen, a compound found in alfalfa sprouts, are believed to help increase bone formation and improve bone density, therefore helping prevent osteoporosis.

• Controlling Blood Sugar:

Studies have shown that consuming alfalfa sprouts may help manage diabetes. Limited studies have shown a small reduction in blood sugar levels; however, more research on the benefits of alfalfa sprouts in reducing blood sugar levels are needed in order to substantiate this argument.

Start enjoying the benefits of this amazing sprout right now by incorporating alfalfa in your daily diet. Alfalfa sprouts are a great addition to your selection of food due to all of alfalfa's health and nutritional benefits. Alfalfa sprouts are easily found at many grocery stores and farmers' markets. Try incorporating alfalfa sprouts to salads, sandwiches and soups. You can drink the juice of alfalfa sprouts, blend the sprouts into smoothies or just eat them raw. Make sure the sprouts are properly washed before consumption.

Sources for this article include:

http://voices.yahoo.com

http://juicing-for-health.com

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com

http://science.naturalnews.com

About the author:
Sandeep has written many health field articles for both Internet and print publication. He currently writing for insurancetips4u.co.

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