- Highly nutritious food
- Full of essential vitamins and minerals
- Suitable for vegetarians and vegans
- Re-sealable air tight, foil pouch to ensure maximum freshness
- 100% pure botanical ingredients - absolutely nothing added
Organic Alfalfa Leaf Powder from Indigo Herbs
A nutritious Superfood that has a great potential either as a stand alone green powder or as an accompaniment to other Superfoods. The benefits of Alfalfa are numerous since it was one of the first plants to be cultivated from the wild variety and has a long history in various cultures. Organic Alfalfa Leaf Powder is just as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago and can be a great green staple in your diet.
At Indigo Herbs we are passionate about premium quality botanicals. Explore the tabs on this page to find out more about the quality, manufacture and suggested use of this Superfood. We are unable to advise you here on the benefits of our herbal products, however we do recommend you take the opportunity to research the many benefits of this herb. At Indigo Herbs we are committed to empowering optimum health and nutrition and assisting you to take responsibility for your own health and wellbeing, by having access to many of natures healing botanicals. Please consult an Herbalist as to how this product can benefit you.
Due to its extensive root system, the Alfalfa plant is able to pull a high level of nutrition out of the soil. Our Alfalfa Powder is rich in antioxidant Vitamins A & C. High in Vitamin K along with Calcium is essential for healthy bone density & normal coagulation of the blood. High in Magnesium, an essential mineral for overall vibrant health & High in Iron which plays a critical part in the health of red blood cells.
The recommended daily amount of Alfalfa Leaf Powder can be re-hydrated in liquid, such as water, vegetable or fruit juice. This delicious Superfood can be added to a breakfast smoothie, soups, stews, or other foods. Please consult a nutritionist for more information.
Serving:
It is recommended to take 1 to 2 teaspoons of Alfalfa Leaf Powder up to 2 times a day. Alfalfa Leaf Powder should be introduced gradually to enable the body to get used to any detoxification reaction.
People with autoimmune disease, gout and women who are pregnant should avoid taking Alfalfa Leaf Powder.
Care should be taken when introducing a new Superfood into your diet as overindulgence could lead to symptoms of detoxification.
Alfalfa is very easy to grow as a cultivated crop as it doesn't need any extra fertilisation than what is in the soil already. After the organic crop has reached maturity, the top leaves are stripped, sorted, and separated for quality. After the best leaves have been selected then they are freeze dried before being milled into a fine powder. This Alfalfa leaf powder is then tested for heavy metals and toxins before being shipped.
Proteins are a group of biological compounds which are present in every live cell, organ and tissue of the body. Meaning “first” or “of prime importance” in Greek, proteins participate in every cellular process occurring in the body. Proteins are made up of structures called amino acids, there are a total of 21 amino acids, 9 are essential, the rest are nonessential – you must consume the essential amino acids in your diet because your body cannot make them.
Dietary protein supports bone health in three main ways: by supplying the raw material required to construct soft bone matrix, by increasing plasma IGF1 and by promoting muscle growth and retention. IGF1 is a growth hormone that stimulates and increases the activity of osteoblasts (cells which secrete the substance of bone). It is especially important to ensure that children get enough protein since they are still developing and it is necessary to ensure their growth is unimpaired. Proteins play an important role in muscle contraction and coordination, they are present in the muscle tissues in the form of many microfilaments and provide muscle structure. Muscle growth depends on the adequacy of proteins in the body. Proteins function as building blocks for muscles, bones and cartilage, opt for a variety of whole foods to meet your protein needs including; grass fed meat and poultry, eggs, dairy, seeds, beans and nuts.
Protein contributes to:
· the maintenance of normal bones
· a growth in muscle mass
· the maintenance of muscle mass
· Protein is needed for normal growth and development of bone in children.
Vitamin A is the name given to a group of fat-soluble antioxidant compounds. Two different types of vitamin A are found in the diet; “preformed vitamin A” (also referred to as retinol or retinal) is found in animal products and “pro-vitamin A” is found in plant based foods - the most common type being beta-carotene. It was the first fat soluble vitamin to be recognised and is sometimes referred to as the “anti-infective” vitamin due to its enhancement of the body’s immunity against infections by increasing the lymphatic responses against disease forming antigens. It keeps the mucous membranes moist that line the mouth, respiratory passage and urinary tract and enhances the activity of white blood cells.
Known as retinol because it produces the pigments in the retina in the eye, it enables your eyes to adjust to light changes, keeps the eyes moist and improves night vision. It can also significantly reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Vitamin A helps to keep your body free from free radicals and toxins which might cause damage to your skin, helping to keep it soft and supple by ensuring moisture retention. Vitamin A deficiency can impair iron metabolism which can lead to anaemia despite adequate iron intake. Playing an important role in cells’ ability to adapt to perform specific functions in larger organs, the richest sources of preformed vitamin A are found in liver, kidney, butter and whole milk, whereas good sources of pro-vitamin A are dark green leafy vegetables and yellow-orange vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots.
Vitamin A contributes to:
· normal iron metabolism
· the maintenance of normal mucous membranes
· the maintenance of normal skin
· the maintenance of normal vision
· the normal function of the immune system
· Vitamin A has a role in the process of cell specialisation
Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin which is best known for its role in helping your blood to clot or coagulate properly by helping to form the proteins necessary for your bloods clotting factor. The K comes from its German name “Koagulations” vitamin.
There are two types of naturally occurring vitamin K; vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) which is found naturally in plants and vitamin K2 (menaquinone) which is made by the bacteria that line your gastrointestinal tract. For proper bone growth and maintenance your body uses multiple vitamins, however, vitamin K and vitamin D work in tandem to produce a protein (osteocalcin) necessary for bones, without this protein minerals could not bind together to form the density of the bones. Fermented foods, such as natto, typically have the highest concentrations of vitamin K found in the human diet followed by alfalfa seeds and dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale and cabbage.
Vitamin K contributes to:
· normal blood clotting
· the maintenance of normal bones
Vitamin C, a water soluble vitamin also known as ascorbic acid, is one of the safest and most effective vitamins whose benefits are many. It is absolutely vital in collagen production – collagen is a simple protein and an essential part of our connective tissue – the very framework of our body. All of the components that hold our bodies together such as skin, bones, blood vessels, teeth and gums, tendons and cartilage rely upon collagen. Vitamin C is directly responsible for influencing collagen synthesis and helps to shield us from the symptoms of collagen deletion – most famously scurvy!
A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C can protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals which are harmful by-products of digestion or foreign substances in the atmosphere. Inside the body it changes form to a negatively charged compound called ascorbate which helps to protect nerve cells and improves psychological function. It has been known as the antioxidant’s antioxidant because it functions to protect vitamin E from oxidation too, another vitamin that interacts with free radicals to prevent cell damage. Vitamin C strongly enhances the absorption of iron - when they are consumed and digested together, vitamin C combines with the iron to form a compound that is more easily absorbed. Crucial to the overall health of the body in its efforts to fight off infections – both bacterial and viral – white blood cells contain 20 times the amount of vitamin C than other cells and require constant replenishment to keep the immune system working to its optimum capacity, especially during and after intense physical exercise. Whilst highly concentrated in citrus fruits, other rich sources of vitamin C are acerola cherries, leafy green vegetables, red peppers and potatoes.
Vitamin C contributes to:
· normal collagen formation for the normal function of blood vessels
· normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones
· normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage
· normal collagen formation for the normal function of gums
· normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin
· normal collagen formation for the normal function of teeth
· normal energy-yielding metabolism
· normal functioning of the nervous system
· normal psychological function
· the normal function of the immune system
· maintain the normal function of the immune system during and after intense physical exercise
· the protection of cells from oxidative stress
· the reduction of tiredness and fatigue
· the regeneration of the reduced form of vitamin E
· Vitamin C increases iron absorption
Potassium, the third most abundant mineral in the human body, is an essential mineral whose ions are vital for the functioning of all living cells! Potassium plays a role at both the cellular and electrical level – considered and electrolyte because it carries a tiny electrical charge – it is found in red blood cells, muscles and bones. Our bodies use potassium ions to conduct electrical impulses along muscle and nerve cells, it helps to boost the efficiency of nerve reflexes that transmit messages from one body part to another, this in turn helps in muscle contraction to perform various activities without tiring quickly.
Potassium also has vasodilating properties that work to relieve the tension of blood vessels which is one of the main causes of high blood pressure. It is helpful in reversing the role of sodium in unbalancing normal blood pressure thus acting as a vital component that maintains the normality of blood pressure in the human body. The importance of potassium should not be underestimated in your dietary plan, most famously found in bananas other rich sources of potassium include spinach, avocados and coconut water.
Potassium contributes to:
· normal functioning of the nervous system
· normal muscle function
· the maintenance of normal blood pressure
Forming 2% of total body weight in adults, calcium’s best known role is in bone and tooth health. It forms a part of hydroxyapatite, the mineral complex that makes your bones and teeth hard and maintains bone density. It is especially important that children consume an adequate amount of calcium to maximise their bone mass prior to adult years. Also an important part of the blood clotting process, calcium works together with vitamin K and a protein called fibrinogen in the clotting cascade, without adequate levels of calcium and vitamin K the blood will take longer to clot. Calcium helps your muscles contract in response to nerve stimulation, it activates a protein called calmodulin that your muscle cells need to provide the fuel they need to function. Assisting in the transmission of neural impulses, the calcium in your body also aids other types of cell communication – it acts as a “second messenger” in your cells which means it responds to chemical signals from outside your cells and then triggers a response inside your cell.
Calcium helps to activate several digestive enzymes and there is considerable evidence that calcium and vitamin D intake are influential in modulating energy metabolism in humans. Like all minerals, calcium doesn’t work alone but in tandem with other nutrients such as magnesium and vitamin D, for this reason, obtaining our calcium from whole foods – foods whose nutrient profiles have been optimised by nature for superior absorption – is the best way to remain healthy! Excellent natural calcium sources include; chia seeds, sesame seeds, seaweed (such as kelp and Kombu), dark leafy greens and dairy products (such as yoghurt, cheese and kefir).
Calcium contributes to:
· normal blood clotting
· normal energy-yielding metabolism
· normal muscle function
· normal neurotransmission
· the normal function of digestive enzymes
· Calcium has a role in the process of cell division and specialisation
· Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones
· Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal teeth
· Calcium is needed for normal growth and development of bone in children
Iron is needed for a number of highly complex processes that continuously take place in the body on a molecular level and that are indispensable to human life. Formation of haemoglobin is the chief function of this mineral – this is the primary protein found in red blood cells and represents about two thirds of the body’s iron. Haemoglobin binds to the oxygen molecules that you breathe in from the air and releases them into your tissues. The brain receives around 20% of the blood oxygen and a proper flow of blood to the brain can stimulate cognitive activity and help to create new neural pathways, it is especially important that children consume enough iron in their diet – iron deficiency in the first two years of a child’s life is associated with delayed cognitive and psychomotor development.
Ribonucleic reductase is an iron dependant enzyme that is required for DNA synthesis (cell division), thus iron is required for a number of functions including healing and immune function - red blood cells are necessary for providing oxygen to damaged tissues, organs and cells. Iron is also involved in food metabolism and is a cofactor and activator for some enzymes which play key roles in energy production and metabolism. If iron stores are low symptoms can include tiredness, fatigue and dizziness. Dietary iron has two forms, heme (animal based) and non-heme (plant based), important sources are; grass fed beef, oysters, spinach, lentils and beans.
Iron contributes to:
· normal cognitive function
· normal energy-yielding metabolism
· normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin
· normal oxygen transport in the body
· normal function of the immune system
· the reduction of tiredness and fatigue
· normal cognitive development of children
· Iron has a role in the process of cell division
| Nutritional info | Per 100g | Serving 5g | Serving %RDA* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Portion in grams | 5 | ||
| Energy KJ/Kcal | 1288KJ/308Kcal | 64KJ/15Kcal | 0.77% |
| Fat | 0.0g | 0.0g | 0.00% |
| of which saturates | 0.0g | 0.0g | |
| Carbohydrate | 57.6g | 2.9g | 1.11% |
| of which sugars | 0.0g | 0.0g | 0.00% |
| Protein | 20.0g | 1.0g | 2.00% |
| Dietary Fibre | 20.0g | 1.0g | |
| Salt | 100.00mg | 5.00mg | 0.08% |
| Vitamin A | 2.08mg | 0.10mg | 13.00% |
| Vitamin K | 0.80mg | 0.04mg | 53.33% |
| Vitamin C | 154.00mg | 7.70mg | 9.63% |
| Potassium | 2100.00mg | 105.00mg | 5.25% |
| Calcium | 942.00mg | 47.10mg | 5.89% |
| Iron | 36.00mg | 1.80mg | 12.86% |
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