I often get asked if you can juice sprouted seeds and if this is a good idea. The answer is most definitely YES!
Sprouts are a nutrient-rich, low-calorie food. Sprouted seeds are available in grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and health food stores.
Some people prefer to grow their own sprouts at home which can be a simple way to keep a supply of sprouts available. Juicing with sprouts is easy. Many people enjoy juicing with sprouts daily by making a sprout juice or adding sprouts to a favorite juice recipe.
The sprouted seeds for juicing include alfalfa, clover, mung beans, sunflower, radish and broccoli. Different sprouted seeds vary in taste so some experimentation may be required. Alfalfa and clover seeds produce sprouts with a milder flavor than broccoli seeds. The roots are juiced with the sprouts unless the root is thick or long. Then, many people like to remove the tougher, longer roots. Another common question is about juicing wheatgrass sprouts. It’s perhaps more beneficial to juice the mature blades and not the wheatgrass sprouts themselves.
Sprouts have many nutrients including protein, zinc, cobalt, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Broccoli sprouts contain large quantities of cancer-fighting antioxidants as well as potassium and vitamins A, B, and C. Sprouts also contain vitamin K and phosphorous. Sprouts are beneficial for skin health and hair growth.
Growing sprouts can be done easily at home. A benefit of growing sprouts at home is that doing so is cheaper than buying sprouts, and the person can be sure no pesticides were used. Many types of sprouts are ready to eat in less than four days when started from seeds.
Sprouts range from white and very pale yellow to medium green hues. The more the sprouts are exposed to the sun, the darker they will be. Sprouts that acquire a brown tint should be discarded as they are past their prime. Sprouts will release a yellowish liquid in the container where they are kept if they are growing old.
Mature sprouts have sets of two leaves. Only mature sprouts should be juiced. Immature sprouts contain an amino acid that can aggravate some health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. To prepare sprouts for juicing, they should be rinsed with water. When juicing sprouts, they can be wrapped in a lettuce leaf to aid the juicing process and ensure the nutrients are extracted from the sprouts.
One recipe for sprout juice includes two cups of sprouts, one cup of celery, one inch of ginger root, a lemon, one cup of water, and a lime. The lemon and lime should be peeled and sliced. All the ingredients are added to the juicer to make this sprout juice.
Sprouts have many health benefits and are easy to add to vegetable juices while juicing. With the many advantages of juicing with sprouts, these tender, young vegetables are a favorite for making nutritious juice for the family.
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