Equipment Needed
Very little is needed in the way of equipment for sprouting seeds: several
two-quart wide-mouth jars and enough cheesecloth or nylon to serve as covers for the jars. Rubber bands may be used to attach
the cloth to the open end of the jar. The number of jars needed will be determined by the amount and frequency of the fresh
sprouts desired. Only one kind of seed should be sprouted in a jar at a time.
With the equipment at hand, we now consider the sprouting procedures required for the
three major classifications of sprouts: seeds, grains, and legumes.
BEANS, SPROUT
Any beans are sproutable, here’s how: Soak the beans
for 12-24 hours. Pour off the water, and cover beans with a wet towel. Wait another 12-24 hours, rinse,
and cook on LOW heat. They will cook much faster this way, use less fuel, and have more nutritional value. You
can also eat the sprouts fresh, or plant them!
A near perfect health food, beans are high in carbohydrates, fiber, iron, and folic acid, yet contain little or no fat
and no cholesterol.*
They have
been shown to lower cholesterol, fight certain types of cancer, & normalize blood sugar.
How to Sprout
1. SEEDS include alfalfa, celery, clover, oats, radish, fenugreek, and sunflower.
Soak the desired amount of seeds, about one to two tablespoonfuls, in a two-quart jar by filling the jar half-way with tepid
water and covering it with cheese-cloth or nylon, securing the cloth with a rubber band. Place the jar in a dark area, at
about room temperature, for about five hours. After five hours, drain, rinse, and let the seeds stand without water for about
eight to twelve hours. Rinse again and drain well to prevent rotting. For the next six days, the seeds should be rinsed and
drained twice a day using lukewarm water. They should be kept at room temperature in a dark place. After the sixth day, place
them in the light for one more day to increase their chlorophyll content. When determining the desired amount of seeds for
each container, consider that seeds will expand about eight times the original amount. One jar may be used as a starter and
others added as the need arises.
2. GRAINS
include rye, wheat, buckwheat, barley, millet, and rice. Their preparation is the same as for the seeds.
3. LEGUMES include lentils, mung beans, and soy beans. Due to their hardness,
they require an initial soaking of about fifteen hours. They should be rinsed twice a day and given three days for adequate
germination. One cup of beans may be used for each two-quart jar, since expansion in their case is not so great as in the
case of seeds and grains.
It should be
noted that sunflower and lentil sprouts should not be larger than the seed itself in order to be palatable. The time required
for these seeds to sprout is about two or three days.
How to Obtain Seeds
Seeds, grains, and lentils for sprouting may be obtained in most natural food
stores or grain outlets and provide an inexpensive, as well as healthful way to provide food for the family table. Caution
should be used so that only untreated seeds are purchased. In case of a drastic food shortage, war, or natural catastrophe,
a quantity of them stored away could be utilized as a survival food.
Nutritional Value
One of the many benefits of sprouts is their high energy content. The following
is a brief outline of the nutritional value of some of the more popular sprouts.
1. All LEGUMES such as those mentioned above are highly concentrated in both protein and starch and are acid-forming unless sprouted.
When a proper diet of greens, seeds, nuts, vegetables, and fruit is followed,
a proper balance of acid vs. alkaline foods is maintained. When the diet is heavy on the protein side, acidity results and
then it is necessary to eliminate as many acid-forming foods as possible. Sprouting helps to reduce the acid-alkaline imbalance
which might occur when grains, legumes, and other proteins are used.
Mung beans, similar in composition to fruits, are rich in vitamins A, C, and B complex.
2. Most SEEDS contain a great deal of phosphorous, an important mineral for spiritual
aspirants, who want to increase their alertness and mental abilities. Phosphorous is also necessary for healthy bones and
teeth, a fact which makes sprouted seeds desirable for babies and children.
Sunflower seeds are rich in vitamins B and D and all the essential amino acids.
Sesame seeds are a rich source of calcium, iron, phosphorous, niacin, and
protein.
Alfalfa, probably the most popular
sprouted seed, contains much chlorophyll, as well as vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E, G. K, and U. It also has large amounts of iron, calcium, phosphorous, and sulphur.
3. GRAINS. Sprouted wheat has become a favorite with many who try to follow
a natural diet. These sprouts contain vitamins C, E, B complex, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, sodium, potassium, protein,
enzymes, chlorophyll, and possibly B-17. In its cooked form, wheat is unacceptable to some individuals, causing mucus congestion,
allergic reaction, and constipation. In its sprouted form, a large portion of starch is converted to simple sugars, making
it a wholesome food acceptable to many who would otherwise need to eliminate wheat as a food source.
Another way to use wheat is to grow the whole wheat berries as grass. The
chlorophyll and laetrile content of wheat grass is very high. The wheat grass should be chewed to obtain the juice, discarding
the pulp. Special juicers for wheat grass are now on the market.
Another grain we may mention is buckwheat, a food rich in lecithin and rutin.
Sprouts in the Diet
For most people, sprouts would be an excellent addition to their diet. However,
as no set dietary rules can be established to encompass the case of every individual, we suggest that the reader use proper
discretion in their use.
Sprouts are best
when eaten raw, because cooking always destroys a large part of the nutritional content. The entire sprout is eaten, including
leaves and roots. Sprouts are good eaten by themselves but can also be added to salads, sandwiches, or soups. They can also
be blended for baby food, sauces, and dressings. They can be stored in the refrigerator in a jar or plastic bag for up to
two weeks. It is preferable, however, to make small amounts at frequent intervals since seeds and sprouts tend to become rancid
when held for too long a time. Since harmful chemicals are created when foods become rancid, every effort should be made to
provide fresh foods in the diet.
Recipes
The following represent sample recipes. Most dished can be enhanced by the addition of sprouts.
The cook can use creativity in serving sprouts with favorite dishes.
1 1/2 cup sprouted wheat seeds (2-day)
1 1/2 cup water
dates or figs
Place wheat and water in blender
and blend until thick. Add chopped dates to taste and blend until creamy. Figs may be used instead of dates.
A variation of the above is to strain the pulp and sweeten with honey or maple syrup.
Carob or malt powder may be added. If allowed to stand at least 24 hours, it will taste like buttermilk and be very beneficial
for the digestion.
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup pineapple chunks
1/2 cup alfalfa sprouts
2
tablespoons sesame seed
Place pineapple and
water in blender and blend to the consistency of sauce. Pour the sauce over alfalfa sprouts. Sprinkle ground sesame seeds
over the salad.
1/2 cup mung bean sprouts
1/2 cup alfalfa sprouts
1/2 cup buckwheat lettuce
1/8 cup fenugreek sprouts
1/2 cup sunflower greens
cold pressed oil to taste
Add the chopped
buckwheat lettuce and sunflower greens to the sprouts, toss, and serve.
After rinsing
wheat berries, soak them in water 24 hours. Pour out the enzyme-rich soak water and drink, or use in preparing other dishes.
1/2 cup 2-day chick pea sprouts
1/2 cup water
1/8
cup lemon
vegetable powder
Blend water and chickpeas until thick. Add lemon juice and vegetable powder. The taste is similar to
cottage cheese.
There are both physical
and spiritual benefits when we try to purify our bodies by providing them with wholesome foods. Sprouts are an excellent adjunct
to other pure foods in their natural state. Proper diet can help us in our efforts to raise our sensitivity to higher vibrations.
As we become more sensitive individuals, we become better enabled to use our purified bodies in the service of humanity.
