Alfalfa
Alfalfa is also a great survival food. It grows well in the desert as long as it has some water [1]
Food
The wikipedia article is quite good, Seeds are dangerous to eat but leaves are safe. Plant does contain some phytoestrogens. Roots go incredibly deep and drought tolerant, good in southwest US, moderatly salt sensitive, fixes nitrogen, needs steady potassium and phosphorus, causes bloating in cattle when fresh, probably from saponins which kill gram positive bacteria, colors chicken egg yolks from carotenoids. [2].
- Unfortunately for those with iron overload but fortunately for those with anemia, alfalfa contains abundant iron and also apigenin which lowers hepcidin increasing iron absorption. See medicine.
Medicine
Helps arthritis likely due to saponins [3]
Phytoestrogens present,
Apigenin is dominant and all lowest at flowering [4].
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