Have you ever heard of synchronicity? Sometimes described as a coincidence. It’s a term created by psychologist Carl Jung who originally used the term synchronicity in his 1952 essay, “Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting Principle”, to describe chance happenings between unconnected people or events.
Why am I writing about this and what the heck does synchronicity have to do with sprouting?
Let me explain…
Recently I have been researching the health and nutritional benefits of sprouts. After learning and experiencing first hand the impact soaking and sprouting seeds, nuts and grains have in my own diet I wanted to share the info with our readers. The next morning I found a message in my inbox from a blogger who wanted to write an article for our site. Guess what was the topic of her interest? Yup, you got it- Sprouts: Living Foods for Optimal Health.
Now that’s not just a coincidence – that’s a “meaningful coincidence”. Thank you universe 🙂
How do you feel about this phenomena? Do you have any experience with it? Feel free to share it in the comment session below.
And now the article
Sprouts: Living Foods for Optimal Health
Are you thinking of starting your own organic garden at home, but can’t decide which plants to grow because of your limited space?
Here’s a great idea: grow organic sprouts.
Despite their small appearance, sprouts are actually packed with nutrients. Usually eaten raw, they are best added to salads, sandwiches, or even to your green juices or smoothies.
If you’ve never tried sprouts before, perhaps this article will convince you of the immense benefits this nutrient-filled food can offer you.
Sprouts: Great Nutrition in Tiny Packages
Sprouting, simply speaking, is when a seed cracks open for the first time and sends a leaf stalk or root poking upward out of the soil. In the life of a plant, this is a moment of great vitality and energy. When a plant’s seed sprouts, it activates many different metabolic systems, converts some of its sugar content into vitamin C, and also synthesizes a variety of new enzymes.
Sprouts are packed with nutrition, including antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, all of which help protect against free radical damage.
They also:
- Are loaded with up to 100 times more enzymes than raw fruits and vegetables.
- This lets you extract more vitamins, minerals, essential fats, and amino acids from the foods you eat.
- Have as much as 30 percent more nutrients than the original plant does.
- Contain minerals like calcium and magnesium, which bind to the protein and make them more bioavailable.
- Improve the quality of the protein and fibre of foods like nuts, beans, seeds, and grains.
Sadly, many people overlook these potent superfoods, without realizing that they offer a wide range of health benefits, such as:
- Helps support cell regeneration
- Gives protection against free radical damage because of their vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes
- Has an alkalinizing effect on your body, which protects against illnesses
- Is rich in oxygen and helps protect against abnormal cell growth, viruses, and bacteria that cannot thrive in an oxygen-rich environment
Have You Tried Any of These Sprout Varieties?
Remember that variety is key if you want to eat healthily. It is a good idea to include a wide range of sprouts in your diet to make sure that you’re getting all of their benefits. Some ideal choices include:
Broccoli sprouts – Contain the enzyme sulforaphane
Alfalfa sprouts – Offers phytoestrogens, as well as vitamins A, B, C, E, F, and K
Clover sprouts – A significant source of isoflavones
Wheatgrass – High in vitamins B, C, E, and other minerals
Lentil sprouts – Have 26 percent protein
Pea shoots – High in protein and a great source of vitamins A, C, and folic acid
Sunflower sprouts – Loaded with healthy fats, fiber, essential fatty acids, minerals, phytosterols, and protein
The Best Part: You Can Grow Them (Inexpensively) at Home
You don’t have to worry about spending a fortune on growing sprouts, as they are among the most inexpensive foods you can buy or grow. Yes, you can purchase them at supermarkets, but where’s the fun in that? Plus, growing them at home can cut the cost by as much as 90 percent or more.
And don’t worry about space; sprouts can be easily grown in small flat trays inside your home. In fact, one 10×10-inch tray can give you as much as one to two pounds of sprouts, which would last for three days. You can also grow sprouts in mason jars, but this would be more exhausting, as you’ll
need to wash and clean the jars regularly to prevent mold from growing.
Sprouts are a highly versatile food that you will surely enjoy. Add them to your favourite vegetarian dishes, salads, sandwiches, or even as a topping to your main dishes. To increase their shelf life, simply store them in the refrigerator.
About the Author
Elaine Ferrer writes for Mercola.com and is currently researching how to grow foods at home, as well as how to start an organic garden. Some of her previous articles delved on topics like nutrition and how to add supplements like colloidal silver to your daily routine.
DOWNLOAD SOAKING & SPROUTING CHART
Excellent . the most valuable stuff on ur article was how much time to soak and temperature which i couldnot find any where !
just one thing i cannot understand on soaking on some areas u wrote soak in warm ( or cold water ) and store in fridge ….
i didnt get store in fridge part. i mean after soaking we have to keep it on fridge for some time or after its grown u r telling u can keep it in ur fridge im confused abt it
Hello Sameen,
Let me clarify …
HOW TO SPROUT IN 11 EASY STEPS:
1. Rinse the seeds well and pour into a jar (fill to 1/4 mark).
2. Fill the jar at least 3/4 full of water.
3. Soak overnight at room temperature. (we use kitchen counter)
4. In the morning pour out the water and seeds and rinse with fresh water and strain.
5. Return the seeds to the jar.
6. Cover the jar with cheesecloth and secure the cloth with the rubber band.
7. Briefly turn the jar upside down to drain the remaining water.
8. Place the jar on the kitchen counter, away from heat and allow some natural sunlight.
9. Sprouts will begin to appear within 24 hours (give or take depending on the seed).
10. Make sure the sprouts stay moist so that they sprout fully by rinsing and draining them 1-2 times daily until they have reached the desired growth. (as in steps #4-8).
11. Rinse your sprouts before eating.
Sprouts can be stored in the fridge uncovered for up to one week.
*IMPORTANT – do not let buckwheat sprouts grow longer than the seed itself, to prevent unwanted quantities of the toxin fagopyrin, which can cause light sensitivity.
Happy sprouting.