Alfalfa

Alfalfa is not a common plant in our daily life, so many people are unfamiliar with it. In fact, strictly speaking, alfalfa is both a flower and a grass, which is mainly due to its morphology. Alfalfa is distributed in many areas, and the growth of alfalfa is different in each area due to different environments. Most alfalfa grows very lushly.

In fact, there are many plants similar to alfalfa around us, but sometimes people move too fast and don’t have time to stop and appreciate them. But there is nothing to regret, as this is an inevitable phenomenon of social development. So, let’s introduce alfalfa in detail.

Alfalfa, formerly known as purple alfalfa, also known as alfalfa, Latin name: Medicago sativa, is a perennial herb of the Rosaceae, Leguminosae, and genus Alfalfa. It has thick roots that penetrate deep into the soil and have a well-developed root neck. The stem is erect, clustered or even procumbent, quadrangular, glabrous or slightly pubescent, with lush branches and leaves. It is cultivated or semi-wild throughout the country. It grows beside fields, roadsides, wilderness, grasslands, river banks and valleys. It is widely grown as feed and forage in Eurasia and other countries around the world.

Alfalfa has the highest nutritional value among all common forage crops. In fact, literally translated, it means "father of all foods." Because its roots extend 30 feet (nine meters) into the soil, it can absorb more minerals than any other plant. This nutrient-rich plant can tolerate severe drought in areas with limited rainfall.

Alfalfa contains 5 kinds of B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, 10 kinds of minerals and three plant-specific nutrients: flavonoids, carotenoids and phenolic acids. Its main functions are as follows:

1. Flavonoids: They have antioxidant effects and can prevent cholesterol from depositing in the arteries and prevent blood from clotting, thereby reducing the chance of arteriosclerosis. Flavonoids can also block the adverse activities of certain hormones, inhibit the activity of enzymes that cause inflammation, and inhibit the proliferation of microvessels.

2. Phenolic acid: It has antioxidant effects and can be regarded as an antioxidant substance. It can prevent blood from clotting into plaques, allowing blood to flow smoothly in blood vessels and reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases.

3. Carotenoids: can protect the eyes and prevent degenerative diseases of the optic nerve. In the human body, it can make cells mature and differentiate. In disease prevention, it has been proven to be effective in preventing the recurrence of cancer and the occurrence of heart disease. Certain carotenoids have begun to be used clinically as additional preventive chemotherapy in cancer patients.

Therefore, through the detailed introduction of alfalfa in the above article, I believe that many friends now have a certain degree of understanding of alfalfa. It turns out that alfalfa is not just a plant. It also has certain nutritional value, and is quite rich in nutrients. In addition, alfalfa has many pharmacological effects.