Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Day 18: Sprouting sources of life!

Feeling better today.

As I fine tune my Juice Feast I am discovering the benefits of adding sprouts to my Juices. I have been sprouting for a while now, adding them to salads, smoothies, wraps, rolls, they are just so good! they make my brain happy! Literally!

I saw Dr. Brian Clement, Director of the Hippocrates Institute speak at Nature's Emporium in Newmarket. He spoke of many things, but one in particular resonated with me. He spoke of Sprouting as the process of activating the Life Force in food. The more concentrated the Life Force, the higher the nutrient and enzyme content that particular food will have, and the stronger health benefits and impact it will have on our bodies.

"Seeds are a storehouse of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and essential fatty acids as well as the greatest source of protein in the vegetable kingdom. When sprouting, a seed unfolds and starts to multiply and develop its nutrients in order to provide nourishment for the maturing vegetable. This miracle of nature means that a little sunflower seed has in it the basic formula for nourishing a six foot plant." - excerpt from Sprouts the Miracle Food, by Steve Meyetowitz (the Sproutman).

It is quite easy to sprout, make sure the seeds you have are seeds for sprouting, preferably organic (non sprayed). Mums is a great company that sells all kinds of sprouting seeds.

So let's get to it!:

1.- Soak the seeds in bowl, or jar in at least twice the amount of water overnight. This helps eliminate enzyme inhibitors.
2.- Wash in the morning, put them in a Sprouting bag, jar with mesh lid (for breathing), or nut milk bag.

There are so many ways, it really is a matter of choice and preference. The sprouting bag is thicker than the nut milk bag, all though I have tried sprouting in both and they are both good. The Jar with a mesh lid, is ok, all though mold is more prone to grow as the seeds don't get a chance to breathe as much.

3.- Hang Sprouting bag or nut milk bag on a hook (or somewhere) and let the magic begin!!!
If you choose to use a jar, make sure you turn it upside down in a 45 degree angle and let it drip onto the sink. The 45 degree angle allows for air to circulate in side the jar. The seeds should be well drained yet moist. If possible, keep them away from the light during the germination stage.

4.- Rinse at least twice daily. Seeds can be moved to an area with indirect sunlight to maximise greening. Depending on the seed, sprouts may be ready for harvest anywhere between 4 - 14 days.






There are also many automatic spouting home systems. I have recently purchased the FreshLife automatic sprouter. I love it!!!! I love it because it is just so convenient to place the seeds after they have soaked on the slots, and it does all the watering and taking care for you! Who doesn't like that! But I also have the bags and the Tony Hornick's sprouter.”  going on at the same time, just because sprouts don't last at my house, I got keep on sprouting different seeds at different times.



Sprouting is also a great way to save money on organic greens. It is inexpensive to sprout in comparison to the price of organic leafy green produce. So it's a win win.




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"The whole is more than the sum of its parts."- Goethe
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Morning: 6 oz of wheatgrass in 16 oz of coconut water with lime.
Mid morning: Celery, endive, radicchio, cilantro, broccoli sprouts, papaya, pineapple, lime. 50 oz.
Lunch: cup of hot water with unpasteurized Miso.
Mid Afternoon: Collard, spinach, celery, cucumber, cilantro, lime, pear, melon. 50 oz.
Dinner: 2 cups of hot water with Unpasteurized Miso.
After dinner: 4 oz of wheatgrass, cucumber, celery, apple, mint, coconut water. 38 oz.


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