The Sweet Spot
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.
The Sweet Spot

INFORMATION concerning sugar glider health and husbandry matters
 
HomeLatest imagesRegisterLog in

 

 Alfalfa

Go down 
3 posters
AuthorMessage
Something_To_Believe_In
Associate
Something_To_Believe_In


Posts : 4565
Join date : 2009-12-10
Age : 50
Location : Texas

Alfalfa Empty
PostSubject: Alfalfa   Alfalfa Icon_minitimeSun Apr 04, 2010 9:07 am

taken from: http://www.alfalfabenefits.net/

Quote :
Alfalfa Benefits: There Are More Than You Might Think!

Many people have heard that there are some health related alfalfa benefits. What many probably do not realize is how many such benefits exist. From helping with digestive problems to aiding in lowering cholesterol, this is one potent little plant. Read below for a brief description of a few possible alfalfa benefits.

Digestive System


Alfalfa benefits the digestive system in several ways. For those who seem to have less of an appetite than is healthy, it can be appetite stimulator. Alfalfa also contains enzymes which can help the body more easily absorb and digest food.

If you have a problem with water retention, alfalfa may be able to help with that as well as the plant is thought to be somewhat of a diuretic.

Infection Protection

Alfalfa contains a substance which some say can help you protect you against certain bacterial infections.

Cholesterol Aid

While some of the potential alfalfa benefits are not yet backed by clinical studies, this one has been tested and results were quite impressive.

In studies it was shown that alfalfa not only lowers the overall cholesterol, but that it seems to target the bad cholesterol while having no affect on HDL, or good cholesterol.

This is exciting news especially for those with Type II hyperlipoproteinemia as the alfalfa seemed to have a more profound impact on that type of elevated cholesterol.

Kidney Stones

Some have found that alfalfa benefits including aiding in getting rid of kidney stones. It is thanks to some of the vitamins and minerals found in alfalfa that make this potential benefit exist.

It is important to note that while alfalfa may help with the above conditions, all can cause serious complications if not treated. For that reason, you should still visit your doctor and follow all of his advice regarding any medical condition. Alfalfa can be used alongside the doctor’s directives, but you should still get his ok before taking any type of supplements, including alfalfa.

The reason that alfalfa benefits those who take it in so many ways is due to the many vitamins and minerals that are found in the plant. Below is a list of some of those nutrients.

Vitamin A
Helps with eye health, infection protection and skin health.

Vitamin K
Helps with liver issues.

Vitamin D
Helps ensure strong bones.

Vitamin E
Helps with heart and muscle health and can boost the body’s immune functions.

Calcium
Help to keep bones strong.

Other minerals found in alfalfa include phosphorus, iron, manganese, sodium and chlorine.
Back to top Go down
http://gliderpals.weebly.com/
valkyriemome

valkyriemome


Posts : 169
Join date : 2010-03-08
Age : 60
Location : Between a rock and a hard place.

Alfalfa Empty
PostSubject: Re: Alfalfa   Alfalfa Icon_minitimeSun Apr 04, 2010 11:12 am

I'm curious -

Alfalfa hay is considered too "hot" for many species, including rabbits and guinea pigs. It has a very high protein content.

Do you feed alfalfa to your gliders? If so, do you feed it as a source of protein, in addition to it's other benefits?
Back to top Go down
jungleflockmom

jungleflockmom


Posts : 204
Join date : 2009-12-12
Location : Pacific coast

Alfalfa Empty
PostSubject: Re: Alfalfa   Alfalfa Icon_minitimeSun Apr 04, 2010 10:39 pm

I feed it as a protein source. I think,after reading Val's info that I may begin to put the birds' and gliders' alfalfa in my smoothies or oatmeal.

I use it in my basic glider nectar recipe and used an article about alfalfa and working horses to extrapolate down to gliders. It's highly inaccurate I'm sure, so I don't feed my nectar mix every day.

I used to feed it to guinea pigs and rabbits but I used just a few of the leaves that I feed to the parrots. I would never feed it to guinea pigs or rabbits in quantity as I fed oat hay. I also fed it to pot-bellied pigs but in much lower quantities than oat hay. My pot-bellies lived 20 years so I must have been doing something right.
Back to top Go down
Something_To_Believe_In
Associate
Something_To_Believe_In


Posts : 4565
Join date : 2009-12-10
Age : 50
Location : Texas

Alfalfa Empty
PostSubject: Re: Alfalfa   Alfalfa Icon_minitimeMon Apr 05, 2010 8:20 am

I put alfalfa sprouts in my staple mix, and from time to time substitute them with a bit of dried alfalfa. As Dee said, I use it as a plant protein source. I'm right now working on using more plant proteins than animal proteins. We'll see how that goes.
Back to top Go down
http://gliderpals.weebly.com/
valkyriemome

valkyriemome


Posts : 169
Join date : 2010-03-08
Age : 60
Location : Between a rock and a hard place.

Alfalfa Empty
PostSubject: Re: Alfalfa   Alfalfa Icon_minitimeMon Apr 05, 2010 10:25 am

More plant than animal proteins seems like a good direction to move in. I'm not sure why - it just seems to make sense to me.

Glad for this info, thanks.
Back to top Go down
jungleflockmom

jungleflockmom


Posts : 204
Join date : 2009-12-12
Location : Pacific coast

Alfalfa Empty
PostSubject: Re: Alfalfa   Alfalfa Icon_minitimeMon Apr 05, 2010 12:26 pm

I think it's Marsupial Nutrition that says that more than 50% of gliders' diets much of the year is acacia and other gums. I think plant proteins are vital for gliders. Just because they can hunt and kill animals doesn't mean that they have been observed in the wild doing so on a frequent basis. They are not known as predatory hunters because they live so high in the arboreal canopy.

A higher protein diet might have been used originally here in the US to encourage lots of breeding. People could not make money w/their gliders unless they were selling lots of babies and original investments in gliders were high.

I also use alfalfa as a calcium source. The article I used about working horses focused primarily on getting the right amount of calcium and not overdoing it w/too much alfalfa.
Back to top Go down
Something_To_Believe_In
Associate
Something_To_Believe_In


Posts : 4565
Join date : 2009-12-10
Age : 50
Location : Texas

Alfalfa Empty
PostSubject: Re: Alfalfa   Alfalfa Icon_minitimeFri Sep 16, 2011 9:16 am

Here is what dried alfalfa leaf looks like (for those of you asking)
Alfalfa DriedAlfalfaleaf
Back to top Go down
http://gliderpals.weebly.com/
Sponsored content





Alfalfa Empty
PostSubject: Re: Alfalfa   Alfalfa Icon_minitime

Back to top Go down
 
Alfalfa
Back to top 
Page 1 of 1

Permissions in this forum:You cannot reply to topics in this forum
The Sweet Spot :: THE GLIDER DINER :: Glider Gourmet :: Ingredient Checklist-
Jump to: