Alfalfa, also known as Medicago sativa, is a flowering, perennial crop that has been used for medical purposes and as livestock feed for millennia. The flowers of the Medicago sativa plant produce seeds, and these seeds contain various compounds that are believed to have nutritional and medicinal value. According to scientific research, alfalfa seed extract appears to have antioxidant, cardiovascular, metabolic, and various other benefits when taken orally.
Medicago sativa extract contains both fat-soluble and water-soluble compounds. Most of the beneficial components of this seed extract are water-soluble, which means that they are absorbed into your system relatively rapidly.
The only known natural source of alfalfa seeds is the Medicago sativa plant itself.
While this substance appears to have significant nutritional benefits, Medicago sativa seed extract has not been recognised as an essential nutrient, so there is no nutrient reference value (NRV) for this substance.
The only efficient way to derive the benefits of alfalfa from food is to consume alfalfa seeds, which are not very appetising. Alfalfa sprouts also have nutritional benefits, but they lack many of the compounds present in alfalfa seeds that make Medicago sativa seed extract so beneficial to your health.
Like many other natural healing substances, alfalfa seeds contain compounds that are believed to have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are special compounds that prevent oxidative stress from harming your cellular tissues. Medicago sativa seeds also contain unique compounds that may make them beneficial for a variety of common ailments and medical conditions.
If you suffer from any of the conditions or ailments we’ve listed above, then you might benefit from using alfalfa extract. Even if you’re in perfect health, many of the compounds in this natural seed extract are widely regarded as antioxidants, which means that taking alfalfa seed extract may help your body protect itself from the harmful effects of oxidative stress.
Most of the beneficial components of alfalfa seed extract are water-soluble, which means they will absorb into your body relatively rapidly. Repeated ingestion of alfalfa extract is necessary, however, to experience positive results. Generally speaking, you might notice beneficial effects 3-7 days after you start taking alfalfa seed extract.
Your body will absorb the water-soluble compounds in alfalfa seed extract within around 24 hours. It may take significantly longer for your digestive system to process this extract’s fat-soluble components, however.
The water-soluble components in alfalfa extract will stay in your body for around 1-3 days, and the fat-soluble components in this extract may remain in your body for 30 days or longer.
Research indicates that a variety of the components of Medicago sativa seed extract may have antioxidant properties.
There are no known cases of acute alfalfa seed overdose. Long-term use of high concentrations of the compounds present in alfalfa seed, however, could overstimulate your immune system or lead to increased blood oestrogen levels. Therefore, it’s best to stick to the safe concentrations of this substance present in our products.
Most of the active components in alfalfa seed extract dissolve and flush out of your body relatively quickly. Some components, such as phytoestrogens, may build up over time.
Alfalfa seed extract is vegan and gluten-free, so it does not conflict with any dietary restrictions you may observe.
Synthetic or “artificial” alfalfa seeds have been developed for the cultivation of this crop. These artificial seeds are not used, however, to make alfalfa seed extract.
No data are available regarding the potential absorption rate of synthetic Medicago sativa seed extract.
Since the benefits and risks of artificial alfalfa seeds are not yet known, it is highly advisable to use natural forms of alfalfa seed extract.
While it’s possible to consume raw alfalfa seeds, the beneficial components in this natural healing plant are best consumed in the form of alfalfa seed extract.
A 2016 study found that the components in alfalfa seed extract reduce the oxidative stress caused by iron nanoparticles. Since metal poisoning appears to worsen neurodegenerative disorders, this research indicates that alfalfa seed may be useful for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Furthermore, a 2015 study determined that alfalfa seed extract may reduce both fat and glucose levels in the blood, which indicates that this natural substance could be useful for treating obesity and diabetes.