Some Wonderful Health Benefits Of Red Clover

Here, you will learn about some health benefits of red clover.

Red clover, with the Latin name of Trifolium pretense, is an herb belonging to the legume family. This family of plants also includes peas and beans.

Red clover contains isoflavones, which are compounds that act as phytoestrogens. These chemicals are very similar to the female hormone estrogen.

This beautiful flowering plant has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine to treat a number of ailments and for promoting female health. It is found to be beneficial in treating various health conditions.

Benefits to menopausal symptoms

Red clover seems to benefit hot flashes in menopausal women very effectively. According to a 2002 study published in Maturitas, women taking red clover supplements daily saw a 44 percent reduction in hot flashes just after 16 weeks of use.

The isoflavones found in red clover may displace some natural estrogens in the body, thus possibly preventing or relieving estrogen-related symptoms. Menopausal symptoms are often estrogen-related, for instance vaginal dryness or breast pain that women may suffer from during menopause.

Non-menopausal women might also benefit from red clover because it can balance the menstrual cycle effectively.

Benefits against osteoporosis

There has also been some evidence that one of the benefits of red clover is to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis or suffering from bone loss. A 2004 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that daily consumption of red clover supplements in the course of a year had significantly lowered the loss of bone mineral density as compared to taking a placebo. The isoflavones may slow bone loss and influence bone mineral density. This might also help prevent existing bone from breaking. According to Herbwisdom.com, this is mainly helpful in pre and post-menopausal women, and no studies have been conducted to really show the effect on men and younger women.

Benefits against cancer

The benefits of red clover seem to also extend to preventing and slowing down cancer. Published in the Journal of Cancer Prevention Research in 2009, a study found that, when red clover was consumed, there was a decrease in a prostate-specific antigen, or protein, which is elevated in men during prostate cancer.

Red clover has the active ingredients of daidzein and genistein, which are chemicals that prevent the growth of cancerous tumors. According to an Examiner article published in 2010, isoflavones may also be helpful in the process of chemoprevention. The article also states that red clover contains a form of vitamin E called tocopherol, which had previously been connected to reduced risks of heart attack and cancer.

Benefits cardiovascular and circulation health

What are other health benefits of red clover? Red clover can also benefit you by protecting you from some heart conditions. This is because red clover has a chemical called coumarin, which is a natural blood thinner. This can improve your blood circulation and prevent the blood from clotting.

According to the Herb Wisdom website, there is some evidence that red clover may lower the levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise the good cholesterol (HDL) in the body. This might be down to red clover promoting the secretion of bile acid. Increased bile acid production means that more cholesterol is used and less of it circulates in the body.

The health benefits of red clover also include it being a great blood and liver cleanser that improves blood circulation. You can thus use it as a treatment for acne, bladder infections, bronchitis and psoriasis. It is a great herb that you can easily find from your nearest natural herb shops.