Sprouting 101: Grow Superfoods in Your Kitchen

in #health7 years ago (edited)

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Here’s a brief blast of BOOYAH that will hopefully enliven your winter fare.

Ever wondered how to add more life into your diet? What if you could increase the food value of things you were eating? Sprouting, in simple terms, turns seeds into living multi vitamins. It couldn’t be simpler and no green thumb required! For a couple of minutes a day and a few cents you too could enjoy the numerous benefits of vibrant living food in your daily diet.

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Sprouting begins with seeds and water, and actually increases the nutrient density of food.

All raw seeds, nuts and grains will benefit from soaking in water, even if they are eventually cooked. As an energy store for the next generation, the seed locks up all the goodness for a future growth season. The water activates the stored life force and awakens growth and development, unleashing a burst of vitamin and enzymes. This is the process we take advantage of when sprouting, using that process to create nutrient dense, delicious living food to feed you living body!

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Sprouting 101

  1. Get some high quality seeds (fresh, raw and organic). I’d suggest starting with simple and tasty ones like clover, lentils or sunflower seeds. Acquire a jar with screened lid or sprouter (like this one ).
  2. Soak the seeds in non-chlorinated water. Take a moment to give thanks for the little gems of life.
  3. Let stand for the appropriate time (see chart)
  4. Drain off the water and place in a warm place.
  5. Rinse once or twice a day and watch the magic of life unfold.
  6. For seeds like clover, once the baby leaves (cotyledon) have emerged, exposing them to light will “green” the sprouts, by allowing the seeds to produce chlorophyll (the good stuff that oxygenates your body).
  7. A quick dunk in cold water to skim of seed coats can be helpful. (stay tuned for future episodes).
  8. NOM NOM NOM, eat your living goodies (on wraps, in salads, atop soup, in smoothies).

During the early stages the seeds will wake up and start to send out a radicle (young rootlet) while breaking out of their shell to unfold their baby leaves (cotyledon). During this time, minerals bind to proteins (chelation) and make them accessible for your body.

Vitamin content can increase up to 6 times (vitamin C in lentils) and enzyme activity is off the charts.

This is important because enzymes are needed to digest food, but production in your body taxes the system. Along with abundant antioxidants (preventing cellular damage), sprouting essential gives your body a supercharged boost of awesome.

VOILA! You have just grown vibrant living food in just a few days. Enjoy the bounty and keep sprouting. Your body will thank you. If you want more in depth information, detailed info on a variety of methods and seeds and plenty of recipes (from snacks, to soups to deserts), check out my book.

I’ll also be going through more detailed techniques and recipes in future posts, so stay tuned.

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What are you favorite ways to eat sprouts?
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Upvote & Resteem this post (or one of the following episodes) and answer the following questions in the comments below (or in the following posts comment section).

Have you sprouted before?

What’s one health habit that you’re proud of?

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you can do that with sunflower seeds you say?

Yes. Soak and Sprout them up to a day and a half, but no longer.

I have not sprouted before, but have some seeds and am damn eager to try. I miss having greens in the winter. I am proud of the fact that I eat a lot of fruit and excersise lots! In the summer I grow lots of food too, healthy, fresh food. However, I think id like to cut back on the meat consumption, and maybe swim more. Both of those are more difficult lol, cuz the boyfriend loves his meat and I cant swim for free in the lake this time of year. Goals!

Thanks for participating! lol yes so much of our diets tie into our relationships and time of year! Polar bear plunge haha!

yeah I think the solution is for me to learn how to cook with veggies haha, and maybe get a pass to the pool instead of dieing in the frozen ass lake

superfoods for a super post!

I love sprouts in the winter time!

I have a whole bunch of sprout seeds I need to use this winter. Thanks for sharing!

I prefer clover and adzuki. I can eat them as a snack while watching TV, instead of popcorn. But I also make a lot of mung because I love Chinese food and tend to add mung sprouts even to dishes that do not traditionally have them in it.

Thank you for this awesome guide! I'm inspired to up my sprouting game!

Sprouting is one of those things I should be doing but rarely do. They are a great source of nutrition and if you are crafty at buying the seeds very affordable. Thanks for the reminder.

i love sprouting! different seeds are suited for different meals. i love radish & broccoli sprouts in light brothy soups, and sunflower sprouts are amazing in a hearty no-greens salad (chopped apples, shredded chicken, diced onion & bell peppers, for example). this is definitely one health habit i'm proud of - eating well - and i'm always looking for ways to be more active in the winter. it can get so dreary, somedays!

Totally agree - sprouts give that winter boost! You definitely know your sprouting food pairings ;) advanced :D

LOL - thank you. i really like to eat!

Health habit I am proud of- our recent change to the Mediterranean diet for health reasons. Lost weight.. eating better and so proud of us.

One I'd like to change... LESS sugar.

I have never sprouted... yet. I've been reading about micro-greens and plan to expand my greenhouse next year, so we'll see.

Way to go! I could definitely follow the Mediterranean diet. Hope that keeps going well for you.

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