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Alfalfa – a nutritional herb for your body, immunity, and heart health.

Alfalfa is commonly thought of in the United States as food for horses and other grazing, livestock animals.Most people don’t generally consider the health and potential medicinal benefits of alfalfa.However, there are many basic health benefits that alfalfa can provide from a nutritional point of view, and it boasts of various benefits as a medicine as well.Particularly when related to cholestorol and possibly blood sugar,alfalfa may prove to be a very helpful herb indeed. 

In the pages of history, the use of alfalfa dates back to over 3000 years.The first reference of alfalfa was made in Turkey back in 1,300 B.C. It was introduced to the rest of the world by the Chinese while they conquered Eastern Asia, the Romans in Western Asia and Europe and the Spanish passed it on to the new world in the 1500’s and used it as fodder for their horses.  It is also known by its common name in Europe: Lucerne.

Despite the fact that alfalfa is generally considered as a plant to feed the livestock, it has some significant health benefits.

In comparison with most of the other plants, Alfalfa is high on nutritional value.
This is due in part to its deep root system, which allows it to capture and use nutrients that are far deeper in the earth than many other plants are able to get to.

Therefore, it is rich in vitamins A, B1, B6, K, C, and E. Folic acid, calcium, potassium, zinc, and magnesium are also found in alfalfa.One of the biggest nutritional benefits of alfalfa is it has an extremely high protein content. It is a fact that alfalfa in one of a kind with more protein than any other plant in the world, with about 20% of dry alfalfa being pure protein. It is also high on a variety of amino acids. These recent revelations about the nutritional benefits of alfalfa have popularized the plant for human as well as livestock consumption.

With respect to the uses of alfalfa as a medicine, the research is still in the primary stages,but anecdotal evidence and some limited studies show alfalfa has some definate benefits when it comes to cholesterol.It apparently has the ability to reduce the levels of bad cholesterol in the body while maintaining the levels of good cholesterol. Another important benefit is with respect to high blood sugar… the presence of manganese in high concentration helps in lowering the blood sugar levels considerably. So, alfalfa may be a helpful aspect of a high blood pressure diet plan that works. Alternately, alfalfa alone can act as one of several  good herbal remedies for high blood pressure.

Right from the olden days, alfalfa has been used as a remedial measure for cough and asthma, and it has been used to boost the immune system.This may simply be because it is so nutritious, it enables the immune system (and the rest of the body) to operate in a more effective manner. It looks like alfalfa might be one of several flu herbal remedies.

It is also used as a diuretic to remove excess water from the body, but this function does not find much support from any clinical evidence.

So, alfalfa may be a very useful for a variety of medical goals. Firstly, it is highly nutritious, and secondly, it can be an herb that keeps your heart healthy, with a potential beneficial effect on diabetics.

Tagged As: alfalfa, health, heart, heart health, herbs, immune system, natural vitamins, nutrition

Tips To Control Cholesterol And Triglycerides

and cholesterol

Do you have a lipid disorder? With cholesterol and fatty acids and hypertension, the medical terminology can be confusing, to say the least. A “lipid disorder” is just a blanket term for high cholesterol and triglycerides, meaning that you have too many fatty substances in your body, which puts you at risk for heart disease, heart attacks, coronary artery disease and a stroke. This may all sound like bad news, but you can still live many healthy and happy years if you’re willing to make a few dietary sacrifices and take medication.

To get your triglycerides and cholesterol back down to a normal level, you will have to make some dietary changes. For people who have high cholesterol levels from eating too many fattening foods, cholesterol lowering can be accomplished by as much as 10-20% from dieting alone. Reducing calories to 1,200-1,500 for women and 1,500-1,800 for men will help you lose 2 pounds per week. When losing weight, you shouldn’t drink more than one serving of alcohol per day and you should be ingesting eight cups of water daily. Adding just 30 minutes of exercise per day, either all at once or in 3 intervals of 10 minutes, can work wonders for heart health.

When cooking, replace butter with olive oil, canola oil or peanut oil. In many baking recipes, you can use applesauce instead of butter, believe it or not! Dieticians recommend eating no more than 5 ounces of meat per day, substituting ½ cup of beans to get your protein and eating no more than 2 egg yolks per week. To reduce cholesterol and triglycerides and extend your life, you’ll be limiting carbs, sugars, fat and alcohol but your replacement diet doesn’t have to be torture. In fact, many companies are manufacturing sugar free sweets and low fat ice cream to help tame those cravings. Once you use discipline over an extended period of time, you’ll find that these foods have lost their luster and no longer have control over your life or your health.

To get tested for cholesterol and triglycerides, you will have to get blood drawn to analyze the level of cholesterol, lipids and triglycerides in your blood. To prepare, do not eat or drink anything other than water for 12 hours prior to your appointment. This is a relatively painless procedure. If you’re doctor-o-phobic, then there are even home cholesterol screening tests available for purchase.

Tagged As: and cholesterol, cholesterol and triglycerides, cholesterol levels, cholesterol lowering, fatty, fatty acids and hypertension, heart health, high triglycerides, LDL cholesterol

More Vegetables and Fruit Equals a Healthier Heart

You likely already know that you should eat a diet containing a lot of fruits and vegetables. Any kind of vegetables or fruits that you add will have health benefits. However, when it comes to heart health, some are more beneficial than others.

Among the most nutritious vegetable families are leafy greens and cruciferous. Skip the iceberg lettuce, and look for those that are dark green in color. This indicates that there are more nutrients packed inside that are good for your heart. Other important vegetables are cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and kale.

Your best choices in fruit are from the citrus family. Fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits are the best choices for your heart. You’ll get the most benefit if you eat the whole fruit in its fresh form. But fruit juice also contains nutrients that are healthful.

Most people have between one and three servings of fruits and vegetables each day. This is nowhere near the recommended five servings that’s a bare minimum. Even better is to eat seven to nine servings. However, don’t try to go from one serving to nine all at once. Slowly introduce greater quantities into your usual eating habits. Here are some tips to help you sneak in extra servings throughout the day.

If you have eggs in the morning, mix in some veggies like mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers or onions. Drink some fruit juice with your toast and coffee. Make up a smoothie containing whole fruit that you can take with you as you head out the door. Or add some fruit to your cereal.

At lunch, include lots of veggies on your sandwich like lettuce, sprouts, and tomatoes. A bowl of vegetable soup counts as a serving. Eat a small salad along with your main course, or make the salad itself the entree. Try topping your salad with some fruit for extra flavor and nutrients.

If vegetables are already a staple of your evening meal, try adding an extra serving to your plate. If you’re not eating a vegetable with dinner at all, make a point of adding one. A tasty way to add more vegetables to your meal are by making hearty soups and stews. Or start each meal with a small salad.

You don’t have to make major changes to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet. Simply add a serving here or there. It won’t be long before you’re getting what you need for optimal heart wellness.

Tagged As: healthy food, heart disease, heart health, heart wellness, nutrition

Fast Food, Healthy Heart

A lot of individuals eat on the run in today’s fast-paced society. You’re usually better off eating at home rather than dining in a restaurant. However, you can still make healthy choices when you’re eating fast food. Keep these guidelines in mind as you choose your next fast food meal.

A lot of fast food franchises are well aware of the poor reputation that fast food has for clogging up the arteries. To meet the challenge, they have introduced many food choices that are better for you. For instance, many fast food chains now have salads on the menu. All the same, look out for the saturated fat in the dressing. And if your salad comes complete with deep fried chicken on top, you can be sure it’s not as heart healthy as the one featuring grilled chicken.

For your sandwich, opt for grilled chicken over fried. And you can’t go wrong by requesting extra vegetables on your sandwich. Ketchup and mustard are better choices for a dressing because of their lower saturated fat content.

Choose fruit or salad as a side dish rather than fries. This will fill your lunch with vitamins and fiber rather than saturated fat. Instead of soda, pick juice or milk to drink with your meal. This can aid in maintaining normal blood sugar and give you additional vitamins and minerals.

When you’re truly craving a hamburger and fries, it’s ok to give in once in a while. However, watch out for the size of the serving. A number of fast food establishments give you portion sizes that are enough for a couple of meals. Choosing a kid’s meal or a small burger with french fries will help to hold down the amount of saturated fat you consume.

If you’re giving your kids fast food, don’t forget that there are often healthy choices like apple slices and mandarin oranges available. You can also choose milk or juice rather than soda.

In a Mexican fast food place, you can eat surprisingly healthfully by choosing a simple taco or burrito. By loading it up with lots of veggies, you’ll be able to raise the fiber content. Although a taco salad might seem healthy, it’s often laden with saturated fat and calories.

Choosing fast food for the majority of your meals can take its toll on your heart health when you don’t make good choices. Your best option is to eat at home. However, if that’s not feasible, why not try the “better for you” choices that are out there.

Tagged As: healthy food, heart disease, heart health, nutrition