I’ve told you all about how to grow sprouts and the awesome Botanical Interest Seed Sprouter I use to do just that, but let’s talk about why you should be eating those sprouts! There are SO MANY health benefits from sprouts and with all our healthy eating New Year’s resolutions, it’s the perfect time to start sprouting. Here are just a few of the health benefits of sprouting:
1. The vitamin and mineral content is out of this world. If your body is lacking calcium, potassium, iron, Vitamin A, B, B Complex, E, or K, get to sprouting already. It is estimated that the vitamin content increases by up to 20 times the original value within only a few days of sprouting and that there can be up to 100 times more enzymes in sprouts than normal raw fruits and veggies. Getting more vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and essential fatty acids from the foods you eat will, simply put, make you a healthier person.
2. The sprouting process also makes these minerals more usable in your body when the mineral binds to the protein in the bean seed or nut.
3. Sprouting increases the fiber content in the food you sprout. If you’re looking for a great addition to your weight loss routine, increasing your fiber is where it’s at.
4. Sprouting also increases the quality of protein in the beans, nuts or seeds you sprout. Proteins change during the soaking and sprouting process, increasing the nutritional value of your food. Who needs protein powder when you have sprouts?
5. Sprouts help reduce the acidity levels in your body. Too much acidity can be detrimental to your health and in some cases, even increase your risk of cancer. Sprouts help alkalize your body to prevent this.
6. I’m always looking for ways to get more of the essential fatty acids into my diet. Well guess what? The sprouting process increases the essential fats. Problem solved with just a few sprouts.
7. You control what you sprout. There’s no danger in consuming harmful chemicals, pesticides or additives because you’re doing all the growing! As a gardener, this is probably my favorite health benefit of sprouting.
And there you have some of the many health benefits of sprouting. I sprout all sorts of things and love incorporating my sprouts into recipes or throwing them on a sandwich. Not only are they delicious, but sprouts are so stinkin easy to grow. Even if you kill every plant you try to grow, I promise you can grow sprouts!
If you haven’t ever sprouted anything or are nervous about trying it, I highly recommend trying the Botanical Interest Seed Sprouter. It’s perfect for beginners and completely awesome for advanced sprouters too who want to stack a ton of trays on top of each other and grow, grow, grow.
While you’re waiting for your new sprouter to arrive, you can always sprout in a simple Mason jar. That’s how I learned how to sprout and it works like a charm.
So tell me, why do you sprout? What’s your favorite thing to sprout? How do you use your sprouts?
sharon says
Please give recipe & ingredients to that yummy looking sandwich!!! Thank you 🙂
patty p says
My favorite thing to sprout is alfalfa seeds. My local Amish market had a little kit for the top of mason jars and it works so much better than my homemade top! Thats also where I get my sprouting seeds and my garden seeds…they are very concious about environmentally sound practices as far as the seeds they sell and the produce they sell!
Lynn says
My sister was diagnosed as severely Celiac, much later in life. She suddenly couldn’t have wheat at all! However…..when you SPROUT your wheat {or other grains} they no longer are a grain. They then become a vegetable! So I told her this… And she can now eat it! How cool is that!? The designer of our foods is an amazing designer. Wish mankind would stop messing with it. ; )
El says
Amen! God knows what He’s doing
WendyinCA says
I’d love to try sprouting, but I remember issues with sprouting & bacteria a few years ago, and I’m not sure how to do it safely. Does the kit come with thorough directions, Mavis?
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes it does. 🙂
Lisa Scott says
When sprouting in a Mason Jar, do you put anything in the bottom with the seeds? Is there anything like paper towel or sponge? Or do you put something like a screen in the bottom to keep the seeds off the bottom of the jar? I am interested but would like to try growing my own and seeing if I like them before investing in a kit. Thanks 🙂
Lisa Scott says
So sorry, I totally missed the link you posted about how to sprout your own seeds. I found it. Thanks and Sorry :/
Kristina says
Well, with a product grown in no growing medium in a contained environment, I doubt pesticides would be an issue with commercially grown sprouts (though I suppose you could argue for having control of the seed source itself). Food borne illness scares have virtually killed off the commercial sprout farming industry, which begs the question: What, if any, precautions do you take when you make sprouts to insure that you aren’t growing a nice crop of e-coli or salmonella in that warm, wet environment? Wash hands, natch, but wash the seeds somehow or sterilize the sprouter? I’ve just bought a sprouter and I was wondering how to proceed in this regard.
WendyinCA says
If you click on the link “how to grow sprouts,” she provides directions on how to disinfect seeds (which I missed myself, lol!).
Sharon says
My big question is there another way besides bleach to prep the seeds? Beach is not good for you at all. Could vinegar work?
Katy @ Purposely Frugal says
I’ve grown my own sprouts, but actually it’s been awhile. We like to use them in sandwiches and salads.
Melissa Doroquez says
The e-coli risk was the only thing keeping me from starting. I would be nervous to do without bleaching the seeds but I get that is a necessity. I would love to start sprouting! It would be such a cool thing to do in the winter.
Raymond Dean White says
I love alfalfa and broccoli sprouts on sandwiches and in salads. Mung bean sprouts are great in oriental stir frys and radish sprouts can add zip to sandwiches and salads.
Wendi says
I grow them in a mason jar and always have a mature jar of sprouts in the fridge. Every day I simply grab a handful, munch and enjoy – kinda like taking an all natural vitamin. 😉