Sprouts are so healthy! They offer tons of vitamins and nutrients, help offset damage from free radicals, and help alkalize the body – they are considered a superfood. My favorite sprouts are those from broccoli seeds because they help balance hormones in the body by metabolizing (breaking down) excess estrogen in the body. However, sprouts can also be expensive, and sometimes it is difficult to find organic sprouts, especially organic broccoli sprouts. The risk of consuming GMOs when eating non-organic sprouts is also high. For example, the most common types of sprouts are made from alfalfa seeds, which are now genetically modified.
To ensure the highest quality sprouts, why not grow your own with love? Just make sure you check out this list before purchasing your seeds so you are getting the best quality . Bonus – this can be a great learning experience for the kids, who can help you with the process.
So let’s get sprouting! A big thank you to Young and Raw for sharing this process:
Step 1: Take your sprouting seed of choice, which could be alfalfa seed, broccoli seed, sunflower seeds, chickpeas, whatever you like, and give them a good wash. You can do this by placing them in a colander or strainer and just washing them under running water. If you are using beans, pick through them to remove any stones.
Step 2: Get yourself a large mason or sprouting jar, or a large bowl. Place 1-2 Tbsp of small seed, or 3-4 tbsp of larger beans in your vessel, and cover well with 4-5 times the volume of water. What you are doing in this stage is rehydrating and activating your seeds, so they need lots of water! Allow them to soak overnight.
Step 3: After your seeds have soaked, drain off the extra water, and then give them another good rinse.
Step 4: Store your sprouts either in a sprouting jar, a mason jar that has mesh covering over the opening, stored upside down, or in a colander over a bowl. If you don’t have a mesh covering, you can use cheesecloth or even a nylon to put over the top. Sprouting jars are easily found online or at a health food store.
(The idea is that you want to be able to rinse your seeds several times a day, and then give them time to drain so that they do not end up sitting in a pool of water. They need lots of air flow.)
Step 5: Rinse your sprouts or beans 2-3 times a day. Depending upon your seed of choice, you should have sprouts within about 2-5 days. The sprouting process is much faster in hot/humid climates.
Step 6: Transfer your grown sprouts to a glass container and store them in the fridge and enjoy! Be sure to check your sprouts throughout the process for any molding and store them safely in a cool place once they are ready to eat.
In wellness,
Lauren
