Scientists have studied sprouts for centuries to better understand their high levels of disease-preventing phytochemicals, and how they contribute to better health, from prevention to treatment of life-threatening diseases. Major organizations including the National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society and Johns Hopkins University have reinforced the benefits of sprouts with ongoing studies that explore various sprout varieties for their nutritional properties and to validate health claims.
Sprouting is the practice of germinating seeds to be eaten either raw or cooked. They are a convenient way to have fresh vegetables for salads, or otherwise, in any season and can be germinated at home or produced industrially. Sprouts are believed to be highly nutritious and rich in enzymes which promote good health.
They are a prominent ingredient of the raw food diet and common in Eastern Asian cuisine. Sprouting is also applied on a large scale to barley as a part of the malting process. A downside to consuming raw sprouts is that the process of germinating seeds is conducive to bacterial growth, resulting in dozens of outbreaks of lethal infection with Salmonella and E. coli over the past few decades.
Benefits of Sprouts:-
- Raw Foods (Sprouts) contain oxygen, and regular consumption of raw (biogenic) Foods with their abundant oxygen are valuable to health.
- Sprouts are superb for your blood purification and enhance you from skin to hair.
- Free radicals are the main cause of aging. Sprouts help you to reduce this problem in your skin to prevent premature aging, as well as prevent wrinkles.
- If you are suffering from falling hair you are recommended to eat a bowl of sprouts in the morning regularly that will give nutrition to your hair growth.
- Seeds Sprouts are rich source of phosphorous, which is an essential mineral for healthy bone & teeth. It’s also helpful to increase your mental alertness.
- Alfalfa sprouts are a good source of calcium, which can help you to fight osteoporosis better than milk.
- Sprouts are the great source of dietary fiber and also contain phytosterols, which can help reduce cholesterol levels.
- 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.
- Saponins also stimulate the immune system by increasing the activity of natural killer cells such as T- lymphocytes and interferon.
- If you have digestion problem, you should try one bowl of sprouts every day in the morning to cure.
- Sprouts are low in fat and high in proteins and other vital nutrients, so they can also be successfully used as a part of your weight loss program.
- Sprouts have a low glycemic index, which means that they will not spike your blood sugar levels. Therefore, they are safe to add to your diet if you are diabetic.
- Sprouts have food enzymes which are needed for biochemical reactions in the body.
- Some women have found that daily consumption of Sprouts has given relief from hot flushes and supported hormonal function.
Broccoli sprouts contain high amounts of cancer fighting agents. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have discovered that 3-day old broccoli sprouts have exceptionally high amounts of a natural cancer-fighting compound.
Studies on canavanine, an amino acid analog in alfalfa, has demonstrated benefit for pancreatic, colon and leukemia cancers. Plant estrogens are also abundant in sprouts.
They increase bone formation and density and prevent bone breakdown or osteoporosis. They are also helpful in controlling hot flashes, menopause, PMS and fibrocystic breasts tumours.
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 per cent over that of the unsprouted seed.
How to Grow Sprouts in a Jar?
Growing sprouts in a jar is easy. Here’s how to do it:
- Place one to two tablespoons of seeds in your jar, and cover with approximately two inches of warm water. Let this sit overnight.
- Drain the water, using a fine sieve or cheesecloth.
- Rinse the seeds by adding water the the jar, swishing the seeds around, and draining.
- Repeat twice a day, every day until your sprouts are the desired size. This will take anywhere from three to seven days, depending on the variety of sprout you’re growing. Sprouts are best when they’re still fairly small and just starting to turn green.
- Store your sprouts in a covered bowl or food storage bag with a paper towel inside to absorb excess moisture. Use the sprouts within a week.
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