Nutritional information for SPROUTS

I LOVE SPROUTS!!!  Growing sprouts are simple and easy plus I save a bunch of moolah!

Today I'm sharing the Health Benefits of Sprouts by variety.

Alfalfa sprouts according to LiveStrong:

Alfalfa Sprouts

Alfalfa sprouts contain only 8 calories per serving, making this crunchy food an ideal choice for people who are trying to lose weight. Self magazine grants alfalfa sprout a five-star rating as a weight loss aid, noting that it is low in calories, sugar, fat and saturated fat. Additionally, because alfalfa sprouts are rich in fiber and protein, they may help to facilitate sensations of fullness for people who tend to overeat.

Alfalfa sprouts are a good source of several micronutrients, or vitamins. NutritionData reports that alfalfa sprouts contain B vitamins such as niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, pantothenic acid and vitamin B6. Additionally, alfalfa sprouts provide roughly 13 percent of an adult's recommended daily intake of vitamin K. Because of alfalfa's high vitamin K content, the National Institutes of Health advise patients taking blood-thinners to avoid foods and supplements made from the plant.

Broccoli sprouts according to Livestrong:

Sprouted Broccoli seeds

Eating broccoli sprouts may be able to protect people from cancer, according to scientists from Johns Hopkins. The Maryland-based researchers found that young broccoli sprouts contain a substance called sulforaphane in concentrated amounts. Sulforaphane helps the body fight cancer, and may prevent certain cancers from developing. Researchers call this phenomenon chemoprotection. 

Asthma sufferers may benefit from a daily dose of broccoli sprouts, as studies have shown a decrease in inflammation of the airways after eating the vegetable. A study reported in the March 2009 issue of Clinical Immunology reports that sulforaphane, the same compound that can prevent and fight cancer, reduced inflammation associated with asthma and nasal allergies. In addition to broccoli sprouts, sulforaphane is naturally occurring in cauliflower, mature broccoli, brussels sprouts and cabbage. 

Buckwheat Sprouts according to Zhion

Buckwheat Groats (seeds)

Buckwheat has been grown since 1000 BC or earlier in China. Buckwheat has been used in various food products and some researches have been done with the common buckwheat. It contains proteins, flavonoids, flavones, phytosterols, thiamin-binding proteins, and other rare compounds in its seeds. It has been speculated that buckwheat may benefit people with cholesterol issues, hypertension and constipation. [1]

The Potential Health Benefits of Buckwheat 

Buckwheat sprout was found to contain quercetin, I-ascorbic acid, oxalic, malic, tartaric, and citric acids, rutin, and gamma-aminobutyric acid. Animal / cell studies suggest that buckwheat may have benefits of anti-cancer, cholesterol lowering, triglyceride lowering and anti-oxidative activities. [4,6]

Extracts of buckwheat spouts were found to have anti-inflammatory activities in a study of lipopolysaccharide-treated mice. After the intake of lipopolysaccharide, the inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha were markedly up-regulated in the spleen and  liver. [2] While, buckwheat hull extract was shown to have neurological protection against trimethyltin in a study of rats. [3]

Fenugreek sprouts according to Livestrong:

Fenugreek Sprouts

Fenugreek sprouts provide a large source of protein and a smaller amount of carbohydrates due to the sprouting process compared to other legumes. The soaking process of seed to sprout allows for enzymatic reactions to occur, providing easily digested proteins. The enzyme amylase breaks down complex carbohydrates found in the seeds to simple carbohydrates that are washed away during the rinsing process. Lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fat, creates a usable form of fat that is easily absorbed in the body.

Fenugreek can be used as spice, digestive aid, hair growth supplement and expectorant. Fenugreek may help stimulate milk production in nursing women and may aid in menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and breast tenderness. Fenugreek may also help to naturally lower cholesterol and aid in blood-sugar control in people who have diabetes.

Fenugreek provides a variety of vitamins, minerals, proteins, healthy fats and fiber. One teaspoon of fenugreek contains 12 calories, 0.85 g protein, 0.24 g fat, 0.9 g fiber, 7 mg calcium, 1.24 mg iron, 7 mg magnesium, 11 mg phosphorus and 28 mg potassium.

More Benefits of Fenugreek

  

Mung Bean sprouts according to Livestrong:

Mung bean sprouts have a low calorie density, or energy density, with only 31 calories per 104 g serving. Low energy-dense foods can help you lose weight or prevent weight gain because they are relatively low in calories compared to their serving size, so you can fill up on them without eating too many calories, according to MayoClinic.com. Low energy-dense foods tend to be low in fat and high in dietary fiber, and mung bean sprouts have almost no fat and nearly 2 g dietary fiber per serving.

Sprouted Mung Beans

Each cup, or 104 g serving, of sprouted raw mung beans provides 155 mg potassium and only 6 mg sodium. Try to get at least 4,700 mg potassium and no more than 2,300 mg sodium per day to avoid high blood pressure and an increased risk for heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Each 1-cup serving of raw mung bean sprouts provides 14 mg vitamin C, or nearly one quarter of the daily value for vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant vitamin that is essential for proper immune function and wound healing. Another benefit of mung bean sprouts is their 60 mcg folic acid, or 15 percent of the daily value for this B vitamin, which is an especially important nutrient for women who may become pregnant, because it reduces the risk for neural tube birth defects.

A benefit of mung bean sprouts is that more than 90 percent of their weight is water, and you can use them, like other vegetables, to help you stay hydrated, according to the University of Michigan. Mung bean sprouts are a cholesterol-free food, and their dietary fiber can lower levels of bad LDL cholesterol in your blood. 

Hard Red Wheat sprouts according to Natural Therapy Pages

Sprouted Hard Red Wheat

Sprouted grains, unlike processed grains, are extremely nutritious and provide a valuable part of any healthy diet.  But what are sprouted grains exactly and how can they be used?

When grains, seeds and nuts are germinated, their nutritional content changes and, as they are generally not cooked, they retain their natural plant enzymes.  These enzymes are beneficial for helping the digestion of the seeds and nuts in the digestive tract.  As well as retaining the enzymes, they also retain the nutrients that would otherwise be destroyed by cooking.  Sprouted grains, seeds and nuts also encourage the growth of good bacteria, help to keep the colon clean, and are high in protective antioxidants.

Sprouts, as well as being very digestible, are a good source of fiber and protein, and are high in vitamins and minerals.  As an example, sunflower sprouts are high in vitamins A and C, while mung sprouts are high in vitamin C, iron, and potassium.  Most seeds are high in phosphorus, which is important for alertness, increased mental abilities, and healthy bones and teeth.  In its cooked form, wheat can cause mucus congestion, allergic reactions and constipation.  In is sprouted form, the starch is converted to simple sugars, meaning that many wheat intolerant people are able to eat sprouted wheat bread without any problems.

There you have it!!!  Are you ready to get SPROUTING?  

Mary's Heirloom Seeds offers great deals on 

100% Organic Sprout Seeds and Sprouting Supplies.

How about Detailed Sprouting Instructions?  I don't have instructions for all of the varieties available online yet but I'm working on it.  Instructions are included with each purchase of sprouting seeds. 

Tutorials:

Sprouting Mung Beans

Sprouting Fenugreek

Video: Sprouting Grains

Tutorial for Sprouting Grains

Sprouting Broccoli