Sprouting is the stage when dormant seeds, grains or nuts start to germinate. Sprouts as a source of food pack much more significant amount of nutrients than they do in an un-sprouted form. Sprouts are packed storehouses of all the nourishment that a plant will need to grow in its initial days, so they are loaded with important organic compounds, vitamins, and minerals that our body can also utilize.
Sprouts are thus wonder food due to their high nutritional value. Natural sprouts are good for a healthy body and mind development. They ensures blood purification and strengthen the immune system.
The most common sprouts that people regularly include in food are alfalfa, soy, gram, peas, wheat, moong and fenugreek. Black beans, kidney beans, split peas, garbanzo beans and pinto beans can also be used as sprouted seeds. Sprouts contain a significant amount of protein and dietary fiber, as well as vitamin K, folate, pantothenic acid, niacin, thiamin, vitamin C, vitamin A, and riboflavin. They also provide manganese, copper, zinc, magnesium, iron, and calcium. Many of these component nutrients increase dramatically as the sprout continues to develop.
Along with all of those components, sprouts are also a rich source of enzymes that are essential for health. During sprouting, minerals like calcium, magnesium bind to protein, making them more bioavailable in the body. This helps us balance our body chemistry for better health.
Moong bean seeds are the easiest to sprout. They have a distinct flavor and add taste to the other foods and it is widely popular in salads. Fenugreek' aka 'methi' seeds are packed with powerful phytonutrients and various vitamins which can boost health. It has useful health implications including cholesterol lowering and diabetes controlling effects. Fenugreek sprouts have slightly bitter taste and are known for their curative properties.
Black gram aka ‘kala channa’ sprouts provide folate, vitamin C and copper. Brussels sprouts are the best sprouts for improving the health of hair.