Alfalfa Sprouts

Alfalfa belongs to the pea family. It is a flowering plant, which is cultivated in almost all parts of the world. It is also known as Medicago sativa, lucerne, lucerne grass, etc. It is often cultivated as a forage crop. It has clusters of small purple flowers. Since it belongs to the pea family, it is considered to be a legume. The specialty of this plant is that it can be planted in any part of the world, during any time of the year. Yet the plant harvests in 7 days regardless of the temperature and climate at that time. One has to soak the alfalfa seeds for them to sprout.

The sprouts are white in color and have thread like appearance. It has tiny green tops on it. The juice of alfalfa has a mild flavor and it can be mixed with other juices. There was alfalfa sprouts recall due to salmonella poisoning. The case was linked to contaminated seeds, which were imported into the country. Salmonella contamination of alfalfa seeds is not as widespread as the contamination of meat, eggs, etc. due to salmonella.

Alfalfa Sprout Benefits

There are a number of benefits of eating these sprouts. The juice of alfalfa has a number of nutrients, which makes the juice very nutritive. It is rich in anti-oxidants. It is said that among all the vegetables found, alfalfa has more anti-oxidants. The alfalfa sprouts nutrition facts state that the sprouts are rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin K.

Regular consumption of these sprouts is like a preventive medicine against numerous degenerative diseases. The alfalfa health benefits also extend to treating arthritis. Regular consumption of alfalfa reduces inflammation associated with arthritis. It is also helpful in reducing blood pressure. Eating them regularly helps in strengthening the immune system.

Research is being carried out to find, the benefits of alfalfa in treating leukemia and other cancers like pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, etc. The amino acid present in alfalfa helps in the fight against cancer. If a person suffering from cholesterol problem, regular intake of alfalfa is also known to be helpful in lowering cholesterol. Patients suffering from intestinal ulcers can benefit a lot from alfalfa juice. It is gentle and heals the intestines.

Alfalfa sprouts help in increasing bone formation and bone density. They are used to prevent bone breakdown, osteoporosis. They are also known to be helpful in treating a number of problems faced by women, like hot flashes, menopause, fibrocystic breast tumors, etc.

Sprouting Alfalfa Seeds

For sprouting alfalfa seeds, you will not have to undertake a long procedure. You will require, about 2 tablespoons of alfalfa seeds. Place the seeds in a large bowl. Pour about 3 to 4 times water on the seeds, till the seeds are in contact with water. Let the seeds soak for about eight to twelve hours. Then place the seeds in a sprouter. Place the sprouter away from direct sunlight, but at room temperature. Rinse and drain the seeds every 8 to 12 hours for 6 days. At the end of the 6 days you will see the sprouts will have green leaves. This is the recipe to make alfalfa sprouts in short.

Looking at the alfalfa benefits, you should include it in your diet regularly. If you do not have the time to make alfalfa sprouts or find it time-consuming, then you can buy the sprouts from the market as well. You can make salad using the sprouts or also include it in your burgers, sandwiches or make soups with it.