www.1001TopWords.com |
Discover How to Grow Your Own Source of Vitamins, Fiber, Proteins, and More
Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a great source ofvitamins, fiber, protein, anti-oxidants, and enzymes. A sprout isproduced when a seed starts growing into a vegetable. Sprouts cangrow from the seeds of vegetables, from grains such as buckwheat,and from beans. While Mung beans are perhaps the most commonsource of sprouts, you can also obtain good results from lentils,soybeans and chickpeas just to name a few. Sprouts can be grown almost anywhere and the best part is youonly need a few basic supplies to get started. By following a fewsimple steps, you can receive a continual supply of nutritioussprouts. While there are several commercial products available tocultivate sprouts, here are three of the easiest methods to helpyou get started. - Growing Sprouts in Flower Pots - 1. Start with a clean clay or plastic flower pot. Make surethere is a hole in the bottom of the pot to ensure good drainage.Then place a piece of cheesecloth or muslin in the bottom of thepot over the hole so that the seeds/beans cannot fall out. 2. Next, soak the seeds or beans overnight and then put them inthe pot. Remove any that are broken or damaged. Cover the plantpot with a dish. 3. Once a day, hold the pot under running water for a fewminutes. This is to soak the seeds/beans thoroughly. 4. Once the sprouts begin to show, remove the dish and cover thepot with a piece of clear plastic wrap to let in the light. Placethe sprouting pot near a window that allows daylight but is notin direct sunlight. - Growing the Sprouts in Trays - 1. Soak the seeds or beans overnight. Remove any that are brokenor damaged before you begin the sprouting process. 2. Select a low, flat dish (like a pie plate) or tray. You canpurchase growing trays wherever planting supplies are sold. 3. Next, spread out a 2-inch layer of soil and then sprinkle thesoaked seeds or beans on top of the soil. 4. Cover the seeds/beans with four layers of damp newspaper. 5. Cover the top of the tray with clear plastic wrap. 6. When the sprouts start to lift the plastic cover, (usuallyabout three days) remove the newspaper. 7. Place the tray in a window so that the light can turn thesprouts green. You will need a space to place the sprouting traythat receives daylight but is not in direct sunlight. 8. Because the thin layer of soil dries out quickly, water twiceeach day. 9. After about 8-10 days, you will have sprouts tall enough toharvest. - Growing Sprouts in a Jar - 1. Soak the seeds, grains, or beans in lukewarm water overnightin a wide-mouth glass jar. Remove any that are broken or damagedbefore you begin the sprouting process. (Sprouting increases theseed volume. 4-tablespoons will be sufficient for a quart sizecontainer.) 2. In the morning, pour off the water in the jar and rinse theseeds/beans thoroughly. 3. Place a piece of cheesecloth or muslin over the mouth of thejar. Use a rubber band to hold the material securely in place.This makes rinsing easier. 4. To keep the sprouts constantly damp, repeat the rinsing 2-3times a day. Remember to drain any excess water because thesprouts should not stand in water. 5. Keep the jar away from the light for the first few days. 6. When the seeds/beans begin to sprout, (usually about theforth day) move the jar into the light to activate thechlorophyll and turn the sprouts green. - Harvesting and Storing the Sprouts - Newly germinated grain, seed, and sprouts, increase in food valuein the very first period of growth. Grains should be harvestedand eaten from when they are six days old until they are 4-5inches tall. To harvest, just take your kitchen scissors and cutwhat you need. Sprouts from beans, peas, etc., are ready earlier and can beeaten when they are 3-6 days old, depending on the type ofsprout. For spouts grown in no soil or in seed trays, you canharvest the green "grass" when it starts to grow. Sprouts, fromgrain sown in jars, are ready sooner and are edible even beforethey turn green. Seeds sown in soil take a little longer. If necessary, wash the sprouts thoroughly to remove the seedcoat. Sprouts need to be stored in the refrigerator once they areready to eat. Put the sprouts in tight sealing bags, and theywill remain flavorful and crisp for one to two weeks. Rinsing thesprouts daily under cold water can extend their life. Sprouts may be frozen by blanching them over steam for threeminutes and then cooling them in ice water. Drain them and packinto freezer containers. - Some of the Kinds of Seeds/Beans You Can Sprout - The following list gives some of the popularly sproutedseeds/beans. It is not all inclusive as you can sprout almost anykind of seed. Remember that seeds soak up 2-3 times their dryvolume in water and sprouts need at least six times the volumeoccupied by the seeds. So be sure that your container is largeenough, and start with a minimal amount of seed in a containerlike a jar, until you determine the correct quantity that willgrow to the sprout size you like, without being difficult toremove. Your local garden shop or health food store will carry a line ofseeds for sprouting. When purchasing seeds for sprouting, becertain that the seeds are intended for food and not forplanting. This precaution is necessary because some seeds meantfor planting have been treated with fungicides or insecticides toprotect the young seedlings when planted in a field or garden. Alfalfa - should be soaked for 6-12 hours. The seeds can beplanted in the pots or jars and also in the flats with soil.1-part seed gives 10-parts sprouts in approximately 5-6 days.Sprouts can be eaten after 3 days. When the root is 1-2 incheslong, it will begin to develop tiny green leaves. At this stage,it needs to be eaten immediately so the plant will not switch tophotosynthesis that exhausts the stored food in the seed. Peas - when soaked in a glass jar, will grow sprouts in about 3days. When the roots are 2-inches long, they are ready to eat.1-part peas gives 2-parts sprouts. Lentils - can be grown in either a glass jar or a plant pot andneed to be soaked for 12-hours. The sprouts are ready in 3-4days. Lentil sprouts are ready to be eaten when the root is1-inch long. 1-part lentils gives 6-parts sprouts. Barley, Oats, and Rye - should be soaked for 12-hours and thencan either be grown as "grass" to harvest, or sprouts ready toeat after 3-4 days. The ideal length for eating is about1/2-inch. 1-part seed gives 2-parts sprouts. Soybeans - can be grown in a glass jar or a pot. They need to besoaked for 12-hours and sprouts are usually ready after 3-5 days.They are ready to eat when the root is 2-inches long. 1-partbeans gives 4-parts sprouts. Mung Beans - after soaking for 12-hours, these beans can be grownby any method. Mung beans are the most commonly grown sprouts andare usually ready to eat after 3-5 days. When the bright, whiteroot grows from 1-2 inches long, they are ready to eat. 1-partbeans gives 4-parts sprouts. By growing your own sprouts, you will save yourself money becauseit is less expensive to buy sprout seeds and grow and harvest thesprouts yourself, than it is to buy the sprouts from a market.Sprouting at home takes only a few minutes a day, and can producea good part of your daily requirements of the nutrients you needfrom fresh produce. The hassles are minor, the costs are low, andthe freshness is wonderful. The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program. Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.
|
RELATED ARTICLES
You Are What You Eat You've no doubt heard the saying, "You are what you eat", as it typically pertains to encouraging people to be more health conscious- and really consider each food before it enters the mouth! In America in fact, a commercial for a popular brand of cereal bars actually depicted people walking out of donut shops and bakeries in costumes of the food that they ordered for breakfast, and of course, everyone stared at the donut shaped person walking into the office. The idea behind the phrase, "you are what you eat", is if you don't want to look like you eat donuts every morning for breakfast and fast food every night for dinner, you need to eat healthier.Around the world, countries each have their own special recipes and cooking habits that contribute to the overall health of the countries residents. 6 Ways to Eat More Healthfully With so much 'diet advice' around today it is little wonder if you feel somewhat confused. Whether you are wanting to lose weight, maintain your weight or help your family eat more healthfully....these six, simple ideas will help you to eat more heathfully. Dieting -- The Basic of Meal Planning BASIC MEAL & MENU PLANNING What on Earth is an Enzyme? Enzymes are the workers in our body that make everything function, by enabling chemical reactions. All living cells contain enzymes. They are hard to visualize, since they are not something tangible, but they are essential to our bodies and our lives depend on them. Eating For Success: Breakfast For The Busy Corporate The first place that we cut corners when we are busy or stressed is our eating and in particular our breakfast. The food you eat forms the very building blocks of your body, but most of us have lost sight of the fact that food is fuel and that the purpose of eating is to provide our bodies with the tools they need for energy, functioning, building and maintenance. We eat for a variety of different reasons, none of which relate to the idea of providing our bodies with quality fuel. We eat unconsciously, we use food to fill emotional voids or to be sociable and we fill our bodies with things that we all know aren't good for us ? in effect, rather than using food as essential fuel, we use it to inflict damage on ourselves. Lifestyle Wellness LIFESTYLE WELLNESS = An Adventure of Health + Vitality! The 9 Most Common Mistakes to Avoid When Reading a Food Label Nutrients Avocado - Ooh, What a Lovely Pear! Many people avoid avocados thinking them to be fattening, but the truth is they are packed with Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) which burn fat so actually they make you thin! So now you are over that little misconception, let me tell you the rest of the avocado story? Train Your Self To Eat Healthy For some people it is really hard to give up the junk food and sweets and eat a better, more nutritious diet. So let's use the example of eating the 5 to 9 fruits and vegetables we need daily. The Danger of Curbing Hunger Artificially Unhealthy eating is a harmful problem in America, and contrary to a very outdated perception, this harm is not limited to those who suffer from obesity[1]. In reality, according to the Directors of Health Promotion and Education, the majority of Americans exhibit unhealthy eating habits, with just over one in four women and only one in five men claiming to eat the minimum five daily servings of vegetables and fruits[i]. Mangos: Treat Your Skin and Your Taste Buds Mango is my favorite fruit next to pineapples. They're sweet, juicy and delicious. This extraordinary fruit contains high amounts of vitamin A (contributing to it's meaty bright orange color). It also contains Vitamins B, C , calcium, potassium and cartonoids (helps protect against cancer, common cold, and heart disease). They are also high in fiber and low in carbohydrates, making it an excellent addition to everyone's diet. Do You Know What You Are Eating? With all the news about Splenda of late and the FTC, I had a client ask me the other day, "so what's the deal with Splenda, it's just sugar that has been processed!". I asked him if he knew what Splenda was and he said no. Startling New Evidence: You Can Slow the Aging Process, Scientists Say What if you could actually slow your rate of aging, and live healthier longer, simply by eating certain foods? U.S. Government scientists now say it's possible. The Many Benefits of Green Tea Extract The Benefits of Green Tea Extract: Anti-Aging, Anti-Cancer, Weight ControlOne of the great advancements in nutrition in the twenty-first century is the scientific confirmation of the many benefits of green tea extract. Here are just a few. Green tea:Lowers cholesterolSlows arthritisPrevents the growth of cancer cellsAssists weight loss Copping Out the Positive Effects of Copper One must always keep in mind that copper is not just a kind of metal, when it comes to medicine and health, copper is actually a trace element mineral that serves a wide variety of purposes for the body, both on its own as well as a cofactor. Although the body requires a comparatively tiny amount of copper per day, even that little bit of copper is proven to be essential to having very good health. The Sugar-Coated Truth It is believed that cane sugar was discovered before the birth of Christ. As early as 500 B.C., India was said to have a "reed which gives honey without bees." This reed would later become known as sugar cane. Fructose Short-Circuits Glycolysis First some terminology. Vitamin and Mineral Facts Vitamins & Minerals are essential to sustain life. Its what keeps us alive and healthy. Among many other things, they help us digest food, burn energy, grow hair, re-build muscel fibers, strenghten cells, and its what keeps our skin smooth. Since our bodies are made out of these certain vitamins and minerals, we need to consume these nutrients daily to replenish our bodys useages. Fighting Fatigue and the American Diner Breakfast (Part 1 of a Special 5 Part Series on Body Awareness) Unhealthy Foods: Five Sneaky Foods Revealed With the array of different diets and diet foods available to help with weight loss and health, it's sometimes hard to figure out what's healthy and what's not. Of course, part of the problem is that people have different health needs: for example, while fruit juice is often a good source of vitamins and other nutrients, some people with diabetes may find that some fruit juices have more sugar than they can tolerate. So what sounds healthy may not be healthy for you. How to tell? Look past the advertising to get label-savvy and nutrition aware so that you can avoid sneaky foods that seem like a good idea but may clash with your health needs. |
© Athifea Distribution LLC - 2013 |