The Benefits of Eating Sprouts

Last night, I started sprouting my first sprouts in my Easy Sprouter containers.  I decided to start small ... alfalfa, mung beans, and garbanzo beans.  If I can do this without killing them, I am ready to move onto my next venture, sunflower sprouts and pea sprouts, which require soil.

The alfalfa sprouts and mung beans are for my salads and the garbanzo beans are to make a very yummy, very much craved raw hummus.  Perhaps I will make it a cilantro hummus.  Or maybe, red pepper hummus so that everything I eat and drink throughout the day is not so GREEN.

Beautiful Sunflower Sprouts

I am most definitely looking forward to growing my own because since Sunday, I have consumed over 3 pounds of each peas and sunnies.  It is costly and I find myself having to run back to Whole Foods to clean out their inventory once again.  I have become pretty good buddies with Otis and Ryan in the produce department and they are now so used to seeing me there that they are more than willing to accomodate my every need.  I am heading out to the Phoenix Public Market on Saturday to pick up sprouts from Rhibafarms but they have only 4 lbs of sunnies and a half a pound of pea shoots for me.  What's a girl to do?  Grow 'em, I guess!  I cannot wait until my growing unit comes in tomorrow.  Now that Eric and Allie are eating more raw, I may need to order more trays.

So here are some facts from Brian Clement's book, LifeForce, regarding sprouts.

• Sprouts are a superfood that possess numerous medicinal purposes.
• They contain 10 to 30 times more concentrated nutrients than the healthiest and nutritious vegetables.
• Sprouts have loads of antioxidants which prevent DNA breakdown and slow the aging process.

Health Benefits:

• Broccoli Seeds - Phytonutrients that inhibit the development of cancer.  Eat them with every meal!
• Fenugreek Sprouts - Help control blood sugar, ease digestive issues and eliminate body odor.
• Mung Beans - Easily the most digestible food.  They are loaded with zinc, and the digestible proteins can help prevent and heal prostate cancer, breast cancer, glandular dysfunction and premature balding and graying.
• Sunflower Sprouts - They are a complete protein having the most balanced source of amino acids. They activate every cell in the immune system and build the skeletal, muscular and neurological systems.  This is the #1 most important sprout to consume.  
• Pea Sprouts - Build muscle and strengthen teeth and bones. #2 most important!

Also, add sprouted lentils, alfalfa and clover sprouts to your salads for variety.  Grains, seeds, nuts and beans can all be sprouted and are all fantastically healthy. A great resource for sprouting is Steve Meyerowitz's book Sprouts - The Miracle Food 

Eat sprouts ... be healthy!