Alfalfa shoots are crunchy to eat, have a delicate spicy flavour and contain an abundance of nutrients.

Alfalfa sprouts contains phytochemicals which have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties which confer many health benefits.

Alfalfa sprouts are one of our finest food sources of another compound, saponins. Saponins lower the bad cholesterol and fat but not the good HDL fats. Animal studies prove their benefit in arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Saponins also stimulate the immune system by increasing the activity of natural killer cells such as T- lymphocytes and interferon. The saponin content of alfalfa sprouts multiplies 450% over that of the unsprouted seed.

While the medicinal benefits of alfalfa are poorly understood, the constituents in alfalfa have been extensively studied. The sprouts contain approximately 2–3% saponins. Animal studies suggest that these constituents block absorption of cholesterol and prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.