Clover: Are There Health Benefits? (2024)

If you’ve ever gone hunting for four-leaf clovers, then you’re already familiar with the clover plant, which grows in abundance all over the world. What you might not know about this so-called “lucky plant,” though, is that in addition to being a common ground covering, clover is commonly used as a medicinal herb.

While wild clover is considered poisonous to humans in large quantities, in small quantities, clover is both edible and potentially beneficial to your health.

Nutrition Information

The Food and Drug Administration currently classifies clover along with animal feeds and medicines. The department doesn’t provide standardized information on red clover past that.

There is no standardized serving size for clover. Although the National Institute of Health supports research into the composition of clover, specific nutritional data is currently not available.

Potential Health Benefits of Clover

Anecdotally, clover has been used to treat everything from menstrual cramps to asthma. However, scientists are only beginning to research these common uses of clover. Although some claims about clover haven’t yet been backed by scientific data, others have, including:

Improved bone health. Osteoporosis is a thinning of the bones that usually occurs later in life. One factor that can cause osteoporosis in women is menopause. Isoflavones, which are a compound found in clover, have been proven to improve bone mineral density during menopause.

Reduced risk of prostate cancer. If prostate cancer runs in your family, it may be a good idea to add clover to your diet. Red clover has been shown to lower odds of prostate cancer in men. Keep in mind, however, that red clover can interact negatively with certain medicines used to treat cancer. If you already have prostate cancer, be sure to ask your doctor before you start to eat clover.

Better blood flow. Research suggests that clover can improve blood flow during menopause. Although further studies are needed to know if clover can improve blood flow in general, for women going through menopause, the herb can be a big help.

Potential Risks of Clover

Clover isn’t FDA-approved, and studies have not clearly shown it to be helpful for many health conditions. Be careful to avoid clover if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Clover: Are There Health Benefits? (2024)

FAQs

Clover: Are There Health Benefits? ›

Health care practitioners believe that red clover "purified" the blood by acting as a diuretic (helping the body get rid of excess fluid) and expectorant (helping clear lungs of mucous), improving circulation, and helping cleanse the liver.

Does clover have any health benefits? ›

Red clover is sometimes used to ease menopausal symptoms, reduce bone loss, treat prostate cancer, and decrease cholesterol to support heart health. While results from some clinical trials are promising, large and well-designed studies are still needed to confirm red clover's benefits for these purposes.

Is it safe for humans to eat clover? ›

What you might not know about this so-called "lucky plant" is that in addition to being a common ground covering, clover is often used as a medicinal herb. Clover is both edible and potentially beneficial to your health. You can eat the leaves in salad or boil the blossoms to make tea.

Is clover good for immune system? ›

Boosts immune system and prevents infections: By consuming leaves of red clover, you are more likely to acquire a large amount of vitamin C. Vitamin C boosts your immune system and can help produce more white blood cells. The leaves can provide a good number of antioxidants.

Does clover have side effects? ›

Red clover products contain chemicals called isoflavones. It is possibly safe to take red clover in doses that provide up to 80 mg of isoflavones daily for up to 2 years. It's usually well-tolerated, but might cause muscle aches, nausea, and vagin*l bleeding (spotting) in some people.

Is clover bad for cholesterol? ›

Studies in over 1,200 postmenopausal and perimenopausal women revealed that supplementing with red clover isoflavones lowered total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels ( 18 ). Furthermore, over the study duration of 4 weeks to 18 months, HDL (good) cholesterol was significantly improved ( 18 ).

Does red clover increase testosterone? ›

Supplementation with isoflavones (from soy or red clover) for up to 1 year has not been found to affect hormone levels in men, including testosterone, estrogen, or sex hormone binding globulin.

What is the toxicity of clover? ›

Toxicity usually occurs when alsike clover is a major component of pastures or hay, but some horses are believed to graze it selectively in a mixed pasture. Clinical signs of poisoning initially include mild colic, ill-thrift, and anorexia, with increasing occurrence of signs of hepatotoxicity with cholestasis.

What is the best clover to eat? ›

Clovers. Pink clover flowers have the best taste. Clover is very common but the four leaved clover is fairly rare and is considered lucky when found although the record for number of leaves is fifty six.

Is clover good for hair? ›

Because red clover is a rich source of isoflavones, it can act as a natural DHT blocker to help mitigate issues, including hair thinning and hair loss.

Is clover good for your liver? ›

Health care practitioners believe that red clover "purified" the blood by acting as a diuretic (helping the body get rid of excess fluid) and expectorant (helping clear lungs of mucous), improving circulation, and helping cleanse the liver.

Is clover good for the kidneys? ›

Health benefits:

Clover also contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, chromium, and lecithin. Red clover also contains isoflavin, which helps treat certain forms of lymphatic, breast and ovarian cancer. This wonderful plant reduces pain and inflammation and detoxifies the lymph, lungs, blood, liver, and kidneys.

What is the best immune boosting herb? ›

14 Herbs for Immune Support*
  • Andrographis. This plant, native to south Asia, is known as the “King of Bitters” — and for good reason. ...
  • Astragalus. Astragalus root is harvested in autumn and carefully shade-dried to maintain its full aroma and color. ...
  • Black Elderberry. ...
  • Calendula. ...
  • Cat's Claw. ...
  • Echinacea. ...
  • Goldenseal. ...
  • Lomatium.

Is it safe to drink clover tea? ›

Cloves are rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, which is known to boost the immune system. Drinking clove tea after meals can provide your body with these essential nutrients, helping to support your overall health and well-being.

Does clover increase testosterone? ›

Consumption of red clover by menopausal women could increase the level of luteinizing hormone, decrease the level of sex-hormone-binding globulin, increase the level of testosterone and also increase the level of blood estradiol; although it has no effect on the thickness of endometrium, it could decrease the severity ...

Is clover good for high blood pressure? ›

Conclusion: Isoflavone supplementation from red clover may favourably influence blood pressure and endothelial function in postmenopausal type 2 diabetic women.

Does clover honey have health benefits? ›

Like most raw and wild honey, clover honey offers antiviral and antibacterial properties. In several scientific studies clover honey was found to have the strongest antimicrobial response against bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus – responsible for upper respiratory tract and skin infections.

Is clover nutritious for deer? ›

3) High Nutrition Content and Digestibility

Clover proteins range from the teens for some annuals into the 30s for whites. This is exactly what bucks that are growing antlers and does nursing fawns need from spring through summer. Clover is also high in minerals and vitamins.

Why do farmers plant clover? ›

Organic farmers plant clover to improve soil quality and reduce the need for artificial fertilizers. Livestock owners grow it to provide nutrient-dense forage for grazing animals. Gardeners seed it into their lawns to attract beneficial insects.

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