The benefits of eating sprouts have been a popular topic among vegans, vegetarians and raw dieters for many years. This nutrient-packed food such as alfalfa sprouts, broccoli or mung bean sprouts is rising in popularity.
They represent (especially for plant based dieters) a very interesting source of vitamins, minerals, antioxydants and fibres to provide the body with nutrients it needs the most to function.
What’s absolutely amazing with sprouts is that whether in a grain, a seed or a legume, sprouting enhances the bio-availability of minerals and can reduce anti-nutrient levels by 90%!
Eating raw sprouts has been criticized a lot because of the potential food borne illness occurring with bacterial proliferation (bad growing or storing conditions). But with safety measurements and quality products for home sprouting, you can safely consume them and profit all the health benefits coming with them!
If you’re still not convinced, here are 5 reasons why should be adding sprouts to your diet:
1. Improved digestion
Sprouts contain a surprising high number of enzymes. A way higher amount than in raw vegetables for example. Enzymes help speed up chemical reactions and metabolic processes in the human body. In the digestive system, enzymes help the body break down larger complex molecules into smaller molecules, such as glucose, so that the body can use them as fuel.
2. Lower anti-nutrient content
Anti-nutrients are natural compounds that interfere with the body’s absorption capacity of nutrients. The most common anti-nutrients include lectins, saponins, phytic acid and polyphenols. They can be found in a lot of nuts, seeds, grains and legumes.
Sprouting can outstandingly help cutting down on the levels of these anti-nutrients as well as improving nutrient absorption.
Soaking and sprouting for as little as one day can lower the anti-nutrient content by 90% or more!
3. Increased nutritional values
Vitamins
Vitamins are substances performing hundreds of roles into the body, they are needed for normal cell function, growth, and development.
The vitamin content of plants is at its peak during the sprouting phase. For example, the vitamin B2 content of mung beans increases over 500% after sprouting! Other vitamins such as A, C and E are known to significantly increase in sprouted grains, beans, nuts and seeds.
Minerals
Just like vitamins, minerals play broad and essential roles in our body.
The sprouting phase makes the minerals merging with the protein from the grain, seed or legume. Enhancing protein function and increasing the bio-availability of the protein and minerals such as the electrolytes calcium and magnesium. This results in an improved nutrients absorption into the body during digestion, making them more usable to maintain healthy body function.
Proteins
Proteins are a class of macro-molecules that perform a diverse range of functions for the cell. They help in metabolism by providing structural support and by acting as enzymes, carriers, or hormones. The building blocks of proteins are amino acids.
When sprouted, the quality of protein contained in the seed, grain, legume increases. Specific amino acids such as lysine can be found in bigger amounts in most sprouts vs their full-fledged plants.
4. Loaded with antioxidants
Antioxidants help to protect the body from free radicals, which can damage cells and increase the risk of developing diseases.
Studies (1) (2) show that the antioxidants content of most sprouts is higher than their mature vegetables. Because of their ability to reduce oxidative stress, sprouts have been researched as a beneficial dietary addition for astronauts, who are at risk of oxidative stress from radiations.
5. Affordable and easy
Not only are sprouts affordable, but you can also grow them on your own with very little equipment! (buy a germinator online here)
You can find out HOW to do so in my video just below ヅ
Also, making your own sprouts at home will ensure you they are free from chemical treatments, pesticides and additives.
However, please make sure to be very careful and attentive to your sprouts (smell and appearance) as their warm and moist growing conditions can create deleterious bacteria.
Sprouting Chart
