Benefits of Sprouts
Maybe I was destined to preach the benefits of sprouts when I acquired the nickname “Alfalfa” as a young boy. I looked a lot like the Little Rascals character.
Well, I’ve been living out my namesake because, for years, we have been growing mung bean, alfalfa, and broccoli sprouts at home. Before you start labeling us as hippies gone off the deep end, hear us out. These four benefits of sprouts will surely motivate you to learn how to grow sprouts.
In this article, we’ll dive into four science-backed sprouts benefits, as well as share mung bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, and broccoli sprouts nutrition info. Our three favorite sprout types to grow.
Prepare to be mind blown.
benefits of sprouts
First, we’ll share four attractive benefits of sprouts, followed by the nutrition facts for mung bean, alfalfa, and broccoli sprouts. These sprout benefits for your health are incredible.
1. 100X More Nutritious Than Raw Veggie Counterparts
Sprouts are up to 100X more nutritious than their raw veggie counterparts.
The process of sprouting a seed, legume, or nut releases tons of enzymes, which help our bodies break down food and better extract their nutrients.
There can be up to 100 times the enzymes in sprouts than in other raw veggies. By eating sprouts, our bodies absorb more vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fatty acids from the food we eat.
What’s more, is eating a single sprout is sort of like eating the nutrition of the full plant-to-be. The seed contains the building blocks for the plant and its fiber, protein, iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, B-complex vitamins, and vitamins A, C, and K profile.
Our preferred sprouts to grow and eat are mung bean, alfalfa, and broccoli. We selected these based on taste, grow-ability, and nutrition info (we’ll cover bean, alfalfa, and broccoli sprouts nutrition facts later on). These sprouts are incredibly beneficial for our health.
One study even shows how broccoli sprouts boost the activity of natural killer cells that kill tumors and virally infected cells. Additionally, if you grow sprouts at home in a jar, their nutrient profile is even fresher than getting them from the farmer’s market!
2. History Doesn’t Lie
Sprouts have been used as medicine for millennia.
Records show that Chinese physicians first started using sprouts for their health benefits and medicinal properties an amazing 5,000 years ago.
The trend continued when Captain Cook, the European “discoverer” of Hawaii and Australia, utilized the Vitamin C power of bean sprouts on his long sea voyages to fend off scurvy.
Sprouts again made an appearance in World War II, due to the unbeatable nutrition of mung bean sprouts. Dr. Clive McKay of Cornell University recommended sprouts for US troops in times when resources were tight.
He said that bean sprouts would:
“Grow in any climate, will rival meat in nutritive value, will mature in 3–5 days, may be plated any day of the year, will require neither soil nor sunshine, will rival tomatoes in vitamin C, will be free of waste in preparation, and can be cooked with little fuel.”
Who’s to argue with history? Also, speaking of “rival meat in nutritive value,” have you seen the Game Changers Film yet? Here is our review of the documentary.
3. Say Goodbye To Allergies
Sprouts are a powerful natural anti-histamine.
They contain diamine oxidase, which is an enzyme that reduces histamine levels in the body. Eating sprouts is an excellent way to keep your histamine in balance and sneezy, runny nose at bay.
Sprouts can help fight the symptoms of allergies. I have conducted multiple experiments testing this theory. In college, I became allergic to all dogs and cats (even after growing up with two cats).
Whenever I came in contact with cats or dogs, even for a short amount of time, I’d develop a neck rash, my throat would close up, and I’d sneezing for hours.
However, since March 2018, we have been pet and house sitting via Trustedhousesitters.com, caring for a total of thirteen pets (7 dogs and 6 cats) for far.
When I am eating freshly grown mung bean or alfalfa sprouts daily, I have no allergy symptoms whatsoever. During times when I don’t have fresh sprouts available, the symptoms creep back. I have observed this phenomenon dozens of times.
While this theory is tough to prove scientifically, I can’t ignore that my high intake of sprouts is helping significantly. If you have a pet allergy, I highly recommend you grow your own sprouts and consume them daily.
Here, we created a step-by-step guide to growing sprouts and preparing the best recipes.
4. It’s The Most Readily Available And Cost Effective Veggie Ever
Have you ever wanted a garden but don’t have the time, space, or weather? Me too. Sprouting is like having a garden, but it’s much easier and portable.
What’s more, is you can produce great veggies during any season whenever you have a few days (3-5 days) in a row at home. Plus, growing sprouts is cheap.
We grow them daily. Annually, we save $750 by growing our own sprouts instead of buying them in stores.
+ Growing 32 ounces of mung bean, 12 ounces of alfalfa and 4 ounces of broccoli sprouts per week costs $2.83.
+ Buying that in a store costs about $18.40.
+ The cost to get started using this sprouting jar and these sprouting beans/seeds is $35.64.
If you’re not intrigued yet, wait until you see the sprouts nutrition info.
Nutrition Info and Health Benefits for Bean, Alfalfa, and Broccoli Sprouts
We prefer to grow and eat these three sprout types. Fortunately, they are the most popular, best tasting, and healthiest sprouts to eat. All three of these sprouts are considered “zero calorie foods,” which makes then helpful for sustainable weight loss.
Mung Bean Sprouts Nutrition
Based on 85 grams of raw mung bean sprouts.
Carbs – 6 grams
Fat – 0.5 grams
Protein – 3 grams
Calories – 31
Health Benefits of Mung Bean Sprouts
As shown, mung bean sprouts are a major source of plant-based protein. They also contain 2 grams of fiber for gut health, 23% of your recommended daily amount of Vitamin C for immune health, and high antioxidants to help fight free radicals.
Alfalfa Sprouts Nutrition
Based on 85 grams of raw alfalfa seed sprouts.
Carbs – 3 grams
Fat – 0.5 grams
Protein – 3 grams
Calories – 25
Health Benefits of Alfalfa Sprouts
Alfalfa sprouts, like mung bean sprouts, are a great source of protein and contain 2 grams of fiber, excellent for improving poop health. Additionally, they are great for fighting inflammations, strengthening bones, and strengthening the immune system.
Broccoli Sprouts Nutrition
Based on 85 grams of raw broccoli seed sprouts.
Carbs – 5 grams
Fat 0.5 grams
Protein – 2 grams
Calories – 35
Health Benefits of Broccoli Sprouts
Most notably, research from John Hopkins University has shown that broccoli sprouts can prevent cancer. They are also a natural treatment for ulcers. They have an incredible array of phytonutrients.
Conclusions
We hope these benefits of sprouts motivate you to grow your own sprouts in a jar. Now that you have read the article share your thoughts in the comments.
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You said to be prepared to have my mind blown. You were right! It was! Great article. Learned so much!
Awesome Julie! Now start growing them in your kitchen. I growing mung bean and alfalfa sprouts right now. Those two are my favorite.
Have fun and let me know if you have any questions.
https://www.ryanandalex.com/how-do-you-grow-sprouts-to-eat/
Just wanted to warn those with Histamine Intolerance. I started sprouting green pea sprouts for the DAO they would provide me. I had a great set-up and had great results growing them. I was so proud of my accomplishment. They tasted great too! But low and behold after a few weeks I ended up in the emergency room! They thought I had Lupus. My face was covered in a butterfly rash and my lips and gums were blistered. My lips were swollen and my face was peeling like a sunburn. So If you have Histamine Intolerance be careful about getting the DAO you may need from a sprouted “bean” source as beans are high in histamine and are histamine Liberators as well. I may try Broccoli sprouts instead with a better outcome! Lol right!
I’m so sorry that you ended up in the emergency room. How scary. Thank you for sharing your experience and warning readers. Wow, sprouts really are powerful. I hope you have a MUCH better outcome with the Broccoli sprouts.