Most people have had some sprouts at one point or another, whether it be some bean shoots on a salad or mung bean sprouts in a plate of Chinese Chow Mien. However, an increasing number of people are learning about the amazing power of these 'superfoods', not just when added to something else but as a nutritious meal in and of themselves. Growing sprouts yourself elevates this to a whole other level, for the convenience (if you grow them the right way), low cost and availability of the freshest food grown right in your kitchen.
Sprouts (seeds or grains that have been germinated and have started to grow) are referred to by many to be 'superfoods', containing high levels of digestive enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids not found in the unsprouted seed.. The list of health benefits can go on for pages, but perhaps the most simple and significant feature of these living superfoods is that the growing process itself gives you full control over their cultivation. No hidden pesticides, chemical fertilizers or anything else but the water from your own sink. In a time when we can never really be sure what has happened to the food we eat before it reaches our dinner plate, the value of such a method cannot be overstated.
Additionally, growing sprouts is possible in many places where it can be hard to grow vegetables or deliver them to places while still fresh enough to take advantage of the health benefits. If the climate is too hot or cold or even if you lived on a boat, you can still have access to fresh, live, sprouted foods when you learn the basics of sprouting. Even if you do live in an area where vegetables are accessible, sprouts are never out of season.
The health benefits cannot be overlooked. The human body needs oxygen rich vegetables and living foods to thrive. As wonderful as these foods are, there are climates where it is unrealistic to expect people to be able to cultivate them. In extremely cold or hot climates, food often has to travel hundreds, if not thousands of miles to its destination, so one of the few available options is to create an indoor greenhouse. Extremely cold environments would require an indoor heated greenhouse that is extremely expensive and complicated to build and maintain. On the other end of the spectrum, high desert environments are usually low on water, and to use hundreds of gallons of water over a growing season when most of it evaporates is not an option. Even in areas that are perfect for growing large amounts of fresh vegetables, year round growing is not possible.
To combat all of these hurdles, the answer can lie in growing sprouts. You can construct a mini greenhouse (or multiple greehouses), using a jar or similar sprouters, right on your kitchen counter or other convenient location. This basic set-up provides you and your family with an abundance of fresh, oxygen and enzyme rich foods all year round. There is also the progressive new way of growing sprouts called the Marche Sprouting Method. It uses far less water, time and effort than jars and requires no daily rinsing, which is perfect for people with busy lifestyles who still want to enjoy the convenience and health benefits of sprouts.
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