Alfalfa has been around for years.
Since ancient times to be exact. People have always seen the nutritional value in alfalfa, but not always for people.
Ancient cultures used to grow alfalfa to feed their animals. The Romans in particular prized alfalfa as food for their chariot horses.
In fact alfalfa has traveled all over Europe. It is believed that it originated in Persia, and was introduced into Greece in 490 B.C. when the Medes invaded.
Around 100 B.C., alfalfa made its way through Greece to Italy. From Italy it spread through most of Western Europe. The Spaniards took alfalfa with them, on their expeditions to Central and South America.
The Spaniards too used it to feed their horses. The Arabs believed that alfalfa made their horses quick and strong.
But why didn't alfalfa take over America? Early English colonists brought it over, and many people, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, tried unsuccessfully to cultivate it.
They were unsuccessful because the soil was too acidic, and the climate too humid. But Alfalfa did find a home in a few eastern states where the soil contained limestone.
Eventually, alfalfa spread to Mexico and South America. Here it grew because the climate was arid, and the soil acidic.
But why is alfalfa so nutritious? Alfalfa has very deep roots (some roots grow as far as 30 feet into the ground). This enables it to reach many nutrients that are deep in the earth.
As alfalfa is a plant it contains many different photochemicals in addition to the many minerals. These photochemicals are also believed to play a role in nutrition.
Alfalfa works so well in animals because it contains all the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients they need to maintain a healthy state. But these animals, cows especially, can digest cellulose and other fibrous materials humans can't.
So today you will find many different companies are producing supplements based on alfalfa. These supplements contain all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients of alfalfa, but without the cellulose and other fibers that our digestive systems can't break down.
These supplements are designed to replace nutrients that your diet may otherwise be lacking.
That should explain why alfalfa is so popular, and why this little rascal is good for you.
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Alfalfa has been around for years.
Since ancient times to be exact. People have always seen the nutritional value in alfalfa, but not always for people.
Ancient cultures used to grow alfalfa to feed their animals. The Romans in particular prized alfalfa as food for their chariot horses.
In fact alfalfa has traveled all over Europe. It is believed that it originated in Persia, and was introduced into Greece in 490 B.C. when the Medes invaded.
Around 100 B.C., alfalfa made its way through Greece to Italy. From Italy it spread through most of Western Europe. The Spaniards took alfalfa with them, on their expeditions to Central and South America.
The Spaniards too used it to feed their horses. The Arabs believed that alfalfa made their horses quick and strong.
