Many people have asked me what alfalfa is. But this discovery by health gurus is not so recent. Alfalfa has been around for several long years. Alfalfa by itself has been used as a medicinal herb for over 1,500 years! Chinese medicines used alfalfa to cure digestive disorders and aid the kidneys as well. Closer home, ancient Hindu societies used alfalfa to cure indigestion and a cold paste of alpha was used to cure boils.
Alfalfa was a famous and commonly used remedy for arthritis and water retention during that time.
This herb’s benefits are manifold. I have prescribed it to many of my clients and their hair growth has improved; they feel more energetic and say that their skin has begun to glow. And these benefits do not end here. The eye strain which people get while working on the computer is felt far less with the intake of alfalfa.
Scientifically, this is due to the herb’s high vitamin A content. It’s a great formula for regeneration, age-related eye problems and also for night blindness.
Alfalfa is also a good source of calcium. It has diuretic properties; is known to lower cholesterol and is tossed in salads due to its low glycemic index value which helps to control sugar spikes.
The writer is a Mumbai-based nutritionist