Saturday, April 17, 2010

Sprouts, should we eat them?


Have you ever eaten sprouts? 
If you have read any of my previous posts you'll know that I've been on the quest to eating much healthier. I feel like I have so much to learn about nutrition and the vitamins and minerals that are in different fruits & veggies (off topic, but it just seems wrong to say that as 'veggies & fruits' ;-). Obviously you get more vitamins from your foods when they are raw (except tomatoes which is opposite, did you know that??). I admit, I have a difficult time choking down raw veggies still unless I can hide it into a salad or blend it into a smoothie. Recently I remembered about how my mom grew sprouts when I was young. I have a fond memory of sprouts. When you are a kid they are fun to eat because they are light and crispy. Ok, or maybe I was just weird....Anycase I started doing a little research about sprouts and I was absolutely amazed about what I found out about them!

The Amazing Facts about Sprouts! 
  • Sprouts are incredibly nutritious
  • Sprouts are organic and a toxin free food
  • Sprouts are very effective way to add raw foods to your diet
  • Sprouts are the perfect weight-loss and body-purification food
  • Sprouts are the most complete and nutritional of all foods that exist
  • Sprouts contain no cholesterol and provide several essential fatty acids
  • Sprout proteins are available as amino acids and convert quickly to energy
  • Broccoli Sprouts are one of the most powerful cancer prevention weapons
  • All Sprouts are rich in vitamins, minerals, trace elements, enzymes and fiber
  • Sprouts improve are easily assimilated and boost the efficiency of digestion
  • Sprouts don’t lose vital nutrients sitting in warehouses or on grocery shelves
  • Sprouts are low in calories and a cup of alfalfa Sprouts contains only 16 calories
  • Sprouts nourish and strengthen the whole body, including the vital immune system
  • Sprouts rival meat and dairy products in nutritive value and have none of the ill-effects
  • Enzymes aid in the digestion and assimilation of nutrients, and contribute to the body’s life force
  • Sprouts provide the highest amount of vitamins, minerals, proteins and enzymes of any food per ounce or calorie
  • When Sprouts are exposed to light, several become rich in chlorophyll which helps cleanse and oxygenate the blood
  • Estimates suggest there can be up to 100 times more enzymes in Sprouts than in fruit and vegetables
  • Sprouts are great source of fiber which aids in elimination and their lecithin helps the body get rid of cholesterol
  • Sprouted pulses are rich in vitamins A and C; on an average a 300% in vitamin A and a 500 to 600% increase in vitamin C
  • Sprouts can help protect you from radiation and toxic chemicals Sprouts are rich in antioxidants which help the body to cleanse and detox
  • Several Sprouts contain more protein than cooked meat-at a tiny fraction of the cost and presence and balance of the amino acids makes this protein more digestible
  • Sprouts have a high concentration of vitamins and minerals, proteins, enzymes, phytochemicals, anti-oxidants, nitrosamines, trace minerals, bioflavinoids
  • Sprouts are rich in chemo-protectants such as sulphoraphane and isoflavone which work against toxins, resist cell mutation and invigorate the body's immune system than at any other point in the plant's life even when compared with the mature vegetable
According to medical experts and nutritional researchers, sprouts come as close to being a "perfect food" as anything available.
  • They contain incredibly high levels of all the minerals and amino acids.  They are extremely rich in protein.
  • They are very economical and easy to grow yourself.
  • They are thought to contain some of the most powerful cancer-fighting properties known to medical science.
  • The nutritional content of sprouts is many times greater than the original food value of the seeds and beans from which they sprout.
  • Pound for pound, a salad made from a variety of sprouts, compared with the traditional lettuce salad, would cost less than half as much yet provide five times as much protein, six times as much Vitamin C and seven times as much of the B Complex Vitamins.
  • Whole dried peas have no Vitamin C, yet when sprouted for 48 hours, provide more Vitamin C (ounce per ounce) than fresh oranges.
  • Sprouts save food preparation time since they require no cleaning, peeling or chopping, and can be cooked (if desired) in a mere fraction of the time required for most foods. 


How to grow sprouts!
Sprouts are so simple to grow in your own kitchen within a few days. I just bought a glass jar kit for under $6 at my local health food store that came with a 2 oz packet of organic alfalfa seeds. There are also other methods of growing sprouts such as in sprouting bags and lesser maintenance plastic containers (which cost more). I'm starting out with the glass jar method for now. I'll share pictures of my first sprouts in a few days =)

How to eat sprouts!
There are more ways to eat sprouts than just throwing into a salad! Check out this link for a variety of recipes.

Do you currently eat sprouts? What is your favorite way to eat them?
If you don't eat sprouts, do you think it is something that you will want to start adding to your diet?
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4 comments:

Rebecca Orr said...

I eat them. I first started eating them in stuff like fried rice from Chinese buffets...but now, I like them plain too. I eat them in salads, sandwiches, and wraps. I think that they are good!

Katrina said...

I really only like alfalfa sprouts... But I always thought they were nutritionally empty... Wow!!! I will definitely have to add more to my diet! Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

My mamaw grew some in her kitchen too- both bean and alfalfa. We had them on our salads yesterday. It was the first time I remember having bean sprouts. I always forget how much I enjoy alfalfa. Maybe I'll have to start some in my own kitchen. :o)

B.A. Hunter said...

I am just getting to blog about my sprouting experience too! I love alfalfa sprouts the best. I love them in pitas, on sandwiches, salads, etc. They're great!

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