12/22/2012 3:20:00 PM by JoJo's Massage Therapy
Alfalfa contains substances such as isoflavones and coumestans, which bind to estrogen receptors in the body. Estrogen binds to these receptors like a key in a lock. If the estrogen level is low and many of these "locks" are empty, the constituents of alfalfa - which resemble estrogen "keys" - bind to them instead and increase estrogenic activity.
Alfalfa's estrogenlike "keys," although similar to estrogen, are not nearly as strong. If estrogen levels in the body are too high, the estrogen "keys" fill up some of the locks, denying the space to estrogen, thereby reducing estrogenic activity. Because alfalfa may provide some estrogenic activity when the body's hormone levels are low and may compete for estrogen-binding sites when hormone levels are high, alfalfa is said to be hormone balancing.
Alfalfa Preparations and Dosage: Alfalfa is available in capsules, which you may take daily as a nutritional supplement. One or two capsules a day is recommended. You also can find bulk alfalfa leaves, which you can infuse to make a nourishing tea.
Precautions: Canavanine, a constituent in alfalfa, may aggravate the disease lupus.
Canavanine produces a lupus like disorder in monkeys who were fed diets high in alfalfa. Avoid alfalfa during pregnancy because of itscanavanine content and hormonally active saponins, both of which can cause problems. If you are pregnant, you may put a few sprouts on a sandwich now and then, but avoid daily consumption.