Expert Studies Validate Sprout Nutrition and Health Benefits
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.
According to Paul Talalay, MD, in the American Cancer Society NEWS, “broccoli sprouts are better for you than full-grown broccoli, and contain more of the enzyme sulforaphane which helps protect cells and prevents their genes from turning into cancer.” His findings are consistent with several epidemiologic studies that have shown that sprouts contain significant amounts of vitamins A, C and D. Sprouts are widely recognized by nutrition conscious consumers and health care professionals as a “wonder food.”
Sprout History
Medicinally and nutritionally, sprouts have a long history. It has been written that the Ancient Chinese physicians recognized and prescribed sprouts for curing many disorders over 5,000 years ago. Sprouts have continued to be a main staple in the diets of Americans of Oriental descent. Although accounts of sprouting appear in the Bible in the Book of Daniel, it took centuries for the West to fully realize its nutrition merits.
Nutritional Advantages of Sprouts
It is really only in the past thirty years that "westerners" have become interested in sprouts and sprouting. During World War II considerable interest in sprouts was sparked in the United States by an article written by Dr. Clive M. McKay, Professor of Nutrition at Cornell University. Dr. McKay led off with this dramatic announcement: "Wanted! A vegetable that will grow in any climate, will rival meat in nutritive value, will mature in 3 to 5 days, may be planted any day of the year, will require neither soil nor sunshine, will rival tomatoes in Vitamin C, will be free of waste in preparation and can be cooked with little fuel and as quickly as a ... chop."
Dr. McKay was talking about soybean sprouts. He and a team of nutritionists had spent years researching the amazing properties of sprouted soybeans. They and other researchers at the universities of Pennsylvania and Minnesota, Yale and McGill have found that sprouts retain the B-complex vitamins present in the original seed, and show a big jump in Vitamin A and an almost unbelievable amount of Vitamin C over that present in unsprouted seeds. While some nutritionists point out that this high vitamin content is gained at the expense of some protein loss, the figures are impressive: an average 300 percent increase in Vitamin A and a 500 to 600 percent increase in Vitamin C. In addition, in the sprouting process starches are converted to simple sugars, thus making sprouts easily digested.
Courtesy of The International Sprout Growers Association
Easiest Way to Grow Sprouts at Home
Are you looking for an easy way to grow your own sprouts, how to sprout, sprouting or seed sprouting at home? Or are you looking for seed sprouters, sprouting jars, sprouting lids, strainer lids or sprouting jar lids?
One easy way to grow sprouts at home is using One Quart Glass Sprouter Jar w/ Sprouting Strainer Lid as below. (Grow your own wheatgrass, sprouts, herbs and microgreens for pennies a day. Wheatgrass juicers, growing supplies and juicers for your living food diet.)
To enhance the bioavailability of essential nutrients in sprouts, you can make great smoothie out of them using a Vitamix High-End Blender.
Ingredients
- Sprouts
- Soy Milk
- Ice Cubes
- Banana (optional)
- Honey (optional)
- Slice of Lime (optional)
