Flashback: Why you should be sprouting…

            Sprouts refers to eating plants sprouted from seed about a week into their lives.  Common sprouts are alfalfa, broccoli, soy and mung bean.  Sprouts have the highest concentration and bioavailability of nutrients, they are filled with vitamins, minerals and enzymes.  The health benefits of sprouts include boosting the metabolism, increase enzymatic activity throughout the body, aid weight loss, improve digestion, lower cholesterol, reduce blood pressure, improve skin and eyesight, boost the immune system and give you more energy!

            Sprouts contain protien and dietary fiber, as well as folate, vitamin K, B vitamins, vitamin C, Vitamin A and a host of minerals, such as, magnesium, copper, manganese, zinc, iron, and calcium.  They are a good source of enzymes.

            Enzymes are an important part of the digestive process; they help us absorb nutrients while breaking down food effectively. Being loaded with fiber, they help pull toxins out of our system like a sponge.  Eating sprouts is a great way to bring your elimination process into balance, whether you suffer from constipation or diarrhea.  This wealth of enzymes is not readily available in most foods and can really energize many bodily functions and metabolic activity. 

            Sprouts are high in protein and are highly recommended for vegetarians and vegans to meet their protien needs.  Protein is needed for many, many bodily functions, the creation and maintenance of cells, skin regeneration, organ repair, bone and teeth growth, muscle repair and recovery.  Sprouts are very high in nutrients, but low in calories, and the fiber fills you up, so they are ideal to add to any weight loss program.  They also inhibit ghrelin, which is the hunger hormone that tells us to eat.

            Because of their high vitamin A content, sprouts are good for your vision.  They also prevent macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma.  The high vitamin C content is a super immune booster.  They stimulate white blood cell count fighting off infectious disease.  Due to the high content of vitamin B complex, sprouts prevent neural tube defects in infants.

            A study by The Center for Genetics in Washington DC, confirmed that sprouts are also high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered a “good” cholesterol and can cleanse the blood of “bad” cholesterol.  Omega-3s are anti-inflammatory as well.  Sprouts are high in potassium, a vasodilator, which reduces blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes.

            Broccoli sprouts in particular, have been shown to reduce allergic reactions, such as asthma, which is an inflammatory reaction of the lungs.  A component of broccoli sprouts is the chemical sulforaphane, which is known to kill c_a_n_c_e_r.(1)  I am going to devote an entire blog post to sulforaphane, there is a LOT of info on that!

            Another powerhouse sprout is watercress, which can correct its DNA if it should be damaged.  According to Dr. Mercola, “Vitamin K is by far the most prominent nutrient in watercress, with 312% of the daily recommended value. It forms and strengthens the bones and limits neuronal damage in the brain, which is helpful in treating Alzheimer's disease. There's also vitamin C, with 72% of the daily value, closely followed by vitamin A with 64%. Vitamin C provides top-notch infection-fighting power to stave off colds and flu, help maintain healthy connective tissue, and prevent iron deficiency. Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is essential for a properly functioning immune system and produces pigments in the retina of the eye, an absence of which can cause night blindness.

Manganese is a cofactor for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase, and calcium for strong bones and teeth come in high doses when you eat watercress. Antioxidant flavonoids like ß carotene, zeaxanthin, and lutein protect from lung and mouth cancers. B-complex vitamins include riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), thiamin, and pantothenic acid, all important for keeping your cellular metabolic functions at peak performance.”

            According to www.organicfacts.net, alfalfa sprouts prevent cancer, treat menopause and menstruation irregularities due to its high vitamin K content, great for weight loss, prevents diabetes, lowers cholesterol levels boosts the immune system, Improves digestion, promotes regeneration, speeds up the healing process, stimulates metabolism, and is a tonic for skin care.  There are some potential side effects of alfalfa sprouts that should be taken into consideration, such as an increased risk of certain kind of c_a_n_c_e_r_s, worsening of autoimmune diseases, potential infections, dangerously low blood sugar levels and bleeding problems, in certain individuals with certain conditions.

           

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If the font size, color and type are different - this happens when I transfer the article to blogger, not sure why it happens, but it was not created that way.  So forgive the craziness, and focus on the information!! As always, this article is for informational purposes only and is NOT intended as medical advice!!!