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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- Linus Pauling Institute: Micronutrients and Bone Health
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Calcium
- MedlinePlus: Alfalfa
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
Shaklee Alfalfa Uses
Shaklee, an international supplement company, offers dietary concoctions aimed at upping your nutrient intake and improving health. The company's Alfalfa Complex is an herbal supplement with alfalfa as its primary ingredient 1. You can take it in capsule form or drink it as a tea to up your intake of calcium and phosphorus. Consult your doctor before adding Shaklee Alfalfa Complex to your daily routine 1.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
About Shaklee Alfalfa
People typically eat alfalfa as a sprout. Shaklee Alfalfa Complex contains alfalfa in powdered form as well as dicalcium phosphate, maltodextrin, tricalcium phosphate, fructose and spearmint oil 1. Directions say to take 10 tablets of the supplement a day, which contain 15 calories, 2 grams of carbs and 10 milligrams of sodium. The supplement is also a source of calcium and phosphorus, meeting 30 percent and 20 percent of the daily value per 10-tablet dose, respectively.
- People typically eat alfalfa as a sprout.
- Shaklee Alfalfa Complex contains alfalfa in powdered form as well as dicalcium phosphate, maltodextrin, tricalcium phosphate, fructose and spearmint oil 1.
Bone Health
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As a source of calcium and phosphorus, Shaklee Alfalfa Complex is good for your bones 1. Most people in the United States have a hard time getting the calcium they need from the food they eat, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements, and supplementation can help up intake and improve bone health 4. Phosphorus is also important for bone health, but most people don't have a hard time meeting their daily needs, says the Linus Pauling Institute 3.
Good for Your Heart
Shaklee doesn't make any health claims for its alfalfa supplement, but alfalfa leaves, the main component of the supplement, may offer heart-health benefits by helping to lower blood cholesterol levels 1. The saponins, a type of phytochemical in alfalfa leaves, may bind to the cholesterol in your digestive tract and drag it out of your body, helping to lower your numbers, according to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 2. But most of the research on the saponins in alfalfa comes from test-tube studies, and clinical studies are necessary to substantiate any benefits.
Safety Concerns
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Alfalfa supplements aren't safe for everyone, and you shouldn't take them if you're on the blood thinner Coumadin because of their high vitamin K content. There's also concern that when combined with birth-control pills that contain estrogen, alfalfa may decrease their effectiveness, because alfalfa is a source of phytoestrogen. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about possible interactions with your medication before taking the supplement.
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References
- Shaklee Products: Alfalfa Complex
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Alfalfa
- Linus Pauling Institute: Micronutrients and Bone Health
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Calcium
- MedlinePlus: Alfalfa
- Bora KS, Sharma A. Phytochemical and pharmacological potential of Medicago sativa: a review. Pharm Biol. 2011;49(2):211-20. doi:10.3109/13880209.2010.504732
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. Alfalfa seeds, sprouted, raw. In: FoodData Central. Update February 1, 2009.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. Alfalfa. In: MedlinePlus. Updated March 11, 2019.
- Shi Y, Guo R, Wang X, et al. The regulation of alfalfa saponin extract on key genes involved in hepatic cholesterol metabolism in hyperlipidemic rats. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(2):e88282. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0088282
- Amraie E, Farsani MK, Sadeghi L, et. al. The effects of aqueous extract of alfalfa on blood glucose and lipids in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Interv Med Appl Sci. 2015 Sep;7(3):124-8. doi:10.1556/1646.7.2015.3.7
- Bahmani M, Baharvand-ahmadi B, Tajeddini P, Rafieian-Kopaei M, Naghdi N. Identification of medicinal plants for the treatment of kidney and urinary stones. J Renal Inj Prev. 2016;5(3):129-33. doi:10.15171/jrip.2016.27
- Dietz BM, Hajirahimkhan A, Dunlap TL, Bolton JL. Botanicals and their bioactive phytochemicals for women's health. Pharmacol Rev. 2016;68(4):1026-73. doi:10.1124/pr.115.010843
- Othman N, Che Lamin RZ, Othman CN. Exploring behavior on the herbal galactagogue usage among Malay lactating mothers in Malaysia. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 2014;153:199-208. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.10.054
- Choi KC, Hwang JM, Bang SJ, et al. Chloroform extract of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation by downregulating ERK/NF-κB signaling and cytokine production. J Med Food. 2013;16(5):410-20. doi:10.1089/jmf.2012.2679
- Constantin MM, Nita IE, Olteanu R, et al. Significance and impact of dietary factors on systemic lupus erythematosus pathogenesis. Exp Ther Med. 2019;17(2):1085-90. doi:10.3892/etm.2018.6986
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA investigated multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to alfalfa sprouts. May 13, 2016
- Patisaul HB, Jefferson W. The pros and cons of phytoestrogens. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2010;31(4):400-19. doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2010.03.003
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Traditional Chinese medicine: What you need to know. Updated October 2013.
Writer Bio
Jill Corleone is a registered dietitian and health coach who has been writing and lecturing on diet and health for more than 15 years. Her work has been featured on the Huffington Post, Diabetes Self-Management and in the book "Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation," edited by John R. Bach, M.D. Corleone holds a Bachelor of Science in nutrition.