The wonderful world of sprouts!
I absolutely love growing sprouts! Over just a few short days, I get to watch all these tiny little seeds bursting to life and multiplying in volume before my eyes.
It’s a very beautiful process to be a part of and so incredibly easy, and the health benefits of this food source is second to none. Sprouts are fortifying, nurturing and deeply cleansing all at once.
A QUICK GUIDE TO GROWING YOUR OWN SPROUTS AT HOME:
Measure out a 1/4 cup (60ml) of the seeds you wish to sprout.
Give them a rinse using filtered water (preferable).
Place the rinsed sprouts in a wide mouthed 1litre mason jar and cover with water. Leave them to soak overnight at room temperature.
The following day drain and rinse your seeds.
Place the seeds back in their jar (or jars if doing several batches), covering the jar with a sprouting lid (a brilliant investment if you intend to sprout regularly) or muslin cloth with an elastic band. Give the seeds a good shake around, so they disperse throughout the jar.
Place the jar upside down on stacking tray, so that any water can easily drain.
You will then need to love your seeds to life by rinsing them twice per day. To do this, just leave the seeds in the jar with the lid on but fill the jar about one quarter full with water, giving it a good swirl around, then empty. Do this twice.
Once you have rinsed, place the jar back on the stacking tray upside down.
Day 1 is the day you soak the seeds overnight. On the morning of day 6, remove all the sprouts from the jars and rinse each batch thoroughly.
Dry well in a salad spinner before removing to a glass container for storing in the fridge. The sprouts will last anywhere from 5-10 days depending on the type.
A LITTLE MORE SPROUT KNOWLEDGE!
Sprouts and microgreens are essentially germinated seeds that grow in approximately 2-5 days depending on the seeds. They have the highest concentration of nutrient per calorie of any food, making them an incredibly powerful healing food, and one of the most important roles that they play is to bring back vitality where there is deep exhaustion.
Whoever would have thought that such a tiny being could pack such a powerful punch! Outlined below are some of the ways in which sprouts can deeply nourish you:
REPRODUCTIVE SUPPORT
Sprouts and microgreens are phytoestrogenic, which means they support the production of healthy oestrogen, as well as other sex hormones such as progesterone and testosterone. They nurture the entire endocrine system, especially the adrenals and thyroid, and they are highly supportive to women who have just given birth or who are running on empty (most of us!).
HEAVY METAL REMOVAL
Heavy metals are one of the most damaging forms of toxicity that we face in the world today and we need all the support we can get in removing them from the body. Sprouts and microgreens do just this, pulling heavy metals from the brain and simultaneously rejuvenating and nourishing neurons, which are the fundamental unit of the brain and nervous system that enable the body to communicate. Healthy neurons and the removal of heavy metals is absolutely critical for the prevention of conditions and symptoms such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, brain fog and memory loss.
SKIN REPAIR
Due to their very high levels of trace minerals, sprouts and microgreens are brilliant at helping to repair and nourish the skin.
ELEVATED MICRO-ORGANISMS AND B12 PRODUCTION
When food grows organically in nature, it houses many tiny microorganisms that are critical for health. But sadly, in today’s world, we don’t consume nearly enough of these little creatures as the tendency is to eat less and less wild or home grown food. This, in turn, impacts the body’s ability to produce its own B12, a nutrient that is essential to the nervous system and the entire functioning of the body. Contrary to popular belief, every animal needs to make their own source of B12 for it to be recognised and usebale within the central nervous system, which is where it needs to go. When you grow sprouts at home, these microorganisms or elevated-biotics gather on the sprouts, which means you have a constant supply. This is a strong incentive to get growing, as B12 in the correct form is truly the glue that holds our health together.
SPROUT ALLIES
Each variety of sprout has its own unique personality and qualities. As you grow them for yourself, you’ll get to know them more and more. For example:
Broccoli sprouts have a strong flavour and a kick. They are incredible for strengthening the digestion and raising the levels of hydrochloric acid the stomach.
Radish sprouts are fiery and explosive and help to purge the liver.
Red clover sprouts are gentle and soothing but in their gentle way, they do a great job of cleaning and cleansing the lymph and blood.
Lentil sprouts are full of strength that we take in when we eat them. They are dense energetically and high in fortifying protein that the body can easily assimilate. Lentil and other bean sprouts are best eaten at dinner time, as although they are full of strength, they also help to calm and relax the nervous system. Other sprouts such as those mentioned above are best eaten at lunchtime, as they support energy levels during the day.
If you want to see results with sprouts, it is best to eat two cups per day and to grow your own, as this is how you will maximise your intake of elevated micro-organisms.
Wishing you much love, health & happiness,
Rebecca