Amazing Health Benefits of Sprouts

Are you short on time and still want to eat healthy, then you will definitely benefit from the amazing health benefits that sprouts have to offer.

Sprouts are one of the most nutritious whole foods on planet and are the easiest super foods to grow indoors.  As a seed they a carry the potential of an entire plant/ tree inside of it and  I am sure, this is enough for you to understand the extent of health boost they can provide you with.

So lets get started by understanding what all renders itself to being sprouted?

What can I sprout?

Many different types of seeds can be sprouted. Here is a list of the most common types of sprouts available in the market:

• Bean and pea sprouts: Such as lentil, mung bean, black bean, kidney bean, green pea and black chana
• Sprouted grains: Such as brown rice, buckwheat, amaranth, ragi, quinoa and oat sprouts.
• Vegetable or leafy sprouts: Such as radish, broccoli, beet, mustard green, clover, cress and fenugreek sprouts.
• Nut and seed sprouts: Such as almond, radish seed, alfalfa seed, pumpkin seed, sesame seed or sunflower seed sprouts.

Stack of Different Sprouting Seeds

Why Sprout?

• 1. They are packed with Nutrition

     

     Small but Mighty

Spouting increases the nutrient content of the seed exponentially and converts them into superfoods. Because they are easy to digest on sprouting, the nutrients are absorbed by our gut more easily and assimilated by the body to carry our all its life processes. Sprouts are much richer in protein, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese and vitamins C and K than un-sprouted plants  

While many believe that sprouting increases the protein content of the seeds, the truth is that because sprouts are easy to digest, the body is able to utalize amino acids easily for its functioning. This is likely due to the sprouting process, which appears to reduce the amount of antinutrients — compounds that decrease your body’s ability to absorb nutrients from the plant — by up to 87%

2. Improves Blood Sugar Regulation

Regulates Blood Sugar

Many studies show that people who consume sprouts regularly atleast 3-4/wk, seem to have better insulin sesitivity and blood sugar regulation. These studies attribute these improvements to the high amounts of the antioxidant sulforaphane in the sprouts. In addition to this the fiber content of the sprouts maintains satiety and is an important contributor to reduced HbA1C levels in people with Diabetes.

3 Excellent for out Gut

Gut bacteria, microbiome.

Sprouting makes digestion of these seeds easier by the gut. This is because sprouted beans, grains, nuts and vegetable contain lpwer amounts of anti nutrients than their unsprouted counterparts. This therefore enhances nutrient absorption. Not just this, when seeds are sprouted, their fiber content increases. Much of this fiber is “insoluble” fiber, which means it doesn’t dissolve in your stomach. Instead, it acts as a prebiotic and feeds the “good” bacteria in your intestines.

 4. Good for Heart Health:

Sprouts may improve Heart Health

Sprouts are known to play a significant role in the reduction of bad cholestrol and triglycerides in the body. Also being high in Potassium, they exhibit heart protective properties.

5. Build Immunity

Boost Immunity

Sprouts have a high vitamin C content that makes it a powerful stimulant for the white blood cells in the body to fight off infections and diseases  and thus improves immunity. They are also rich is Vit A. which has a number of antioxidant properties that make a great source of immune system strength.

6. Anti Ageing Properties

Sprouts have Anti Ageing Properties

Sprouts are said to have abundance of highly active antioxidants that helps prevent premature ageing. It is known to prevent the DNA destruction that is also a cause of ageing. Moreover, the antioxidants present in the sprouts help combat cell damaging free radicals that can cause premature ageing. So eat more sprouts and include them in your diet regularly atleast 2-3 times a week..

7. Sprouts for Good Hair

Sprouts are good for Hair

The presence of vitamin A in sprouts stimulates hair follicles and encourages the scalp to grow thicker and longer hair. Vitamin A deficiency may lead to thinning of hair, dry scalp and excessive hair loss. Also being high in zinc, a nutrient that helps stimulate the production of sebum in the scalp that helps keep the roots and hair strands hydrated and nourished.

How to consume them and how frequently?

Ideally, you should consume a variety of sprouts atleast 3-4 times in a week. These could range from the list of different kinds of sprouts given in the beginning of this blog.

The belief that if something is good, more of it would definitely be better has become a popular mode of functioning by public and it is also reinforced by the food and pharma industry. I made this point especially to highlight that over doing spouts can backfire. So stay with the recommended frequency and always include a variety.

How to use sprouts:

Vegetable sprout in Sandwich

The golden rule I follow is that if it’s a bean, lentil or grain sprout, I always lightly steam them and never consume them raw. This is because simply by nature beans, lentils and grains are difficult to digest. Also they are consumed in bigger quantities like dal soups, chickpea or bean salad and chaat. Its important to cook them to ensure proper digestion and absorption.

However the vegetable and other seed sprouts are not only light and easily digestible, but also are consumed in smaller quantities as garnish on soups, savory porridge, sandwiches, salads.  Thus these can be consumed raw if you desire.

Will soon be doing a simple video on how to sprout. For you to start reaping all the health benefit of sprouts in your life!

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