“Phenomenal cosmic power — itty, bitty living space.”

This is how the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin explains the “whole Genie gig.” In the world of plants, a sprout is just like the Genie.

Sprouts may be tiny, but they are packed with nutritional power!

You’re probably wondering what the heck a sprout is, or you’ve seen them but haven’t fully welcomed them into your diet.

Here’s a breakdown of what a sprout is and all the benefits this tiny plant offers!

WHAT IS A SPROUT?

Seeds, legumes, and even grains are composed of nutrients and micronutrients, which are vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to our health.

Unfortunately, many of these amazing nutrients are locked up tight by enzyme inhibitors, like phytic acid. (It’s almost like a mini treasure chest, but you have to be able to find the right key to open it!)

Enzyme inhibitors are there to protect the seed until it is in the right environment to become a plant.

Once the seed is in a favorable environment, the germination process begins, and the dormant seed casts away the enzyme inhibitors and begins to grow!

ENZYME INHIBITORS AND NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY

If I’m eating seeds from grains, legumes, nuts, or seeds, how does phytic acid affect me?

So glad you asked! Phytic acid binds with micronutrients, like calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc, making it nearly impossible for you to absorb those nutrients.

It can also irritate your digestive system. (Cue “Beans, beans, the magical fruit!)

Seeds that are sprouted become easier to digest, and the body can absorb the bound nutrients. (Yay!)

WHY YOU SHOULD BE EATING SPROUTED FOODS

1. SPROUTS CONTAIN LARGE DOSES OF CHLOROPHYLL

Chlorophyll is the “lifeblood” of a plant and has the critical role of absorbing sunlight and turning it into glucose, the energy that a plant needs to grow!

Chlorophyll facilitates the process of photosynthesis, the waste product that comes from this life’s breath!

Hemoglobin, our own “lifeblood” and chlorophyll are practically the same chemical substance. The only difference between the hemoglobin molecule and the chlorophyll molecule is a single atom.

In plants, the central atom in chlorophyll is magnesium; and in our own blood, the central atom is iron.

So why is that so special?

Because the body has the ability to change that single atom and convert chlorophyll into hemoglobin — talk about amazing!

This means that eating a plant-rich diet (especially green plants) will essentially cleanse, flush, and replenish your life’s blood supply! (Pretty cool, huh?)

But chlorophyll does even more! Aside from the life-sustaining importance of oxygen and the amazing cleansing benefits to our blood, it also helps us to neutralize the pollution that we breathe in every day.

It stimulates our red blood cells, improves our oxygen supply, and helps eliminate free radicals that damage healthy cells.

2. SPROUTS AID IN DIGESTION

Raw, plant-based foods contain valuable enzymes that we need to help break down the food we eat.

Our body produces digestive enzymes, but not enough to properly digest everything we eat, which is why it is essential to eat foods that contain enzymes!

Spouts have up to 100 times more enzymes than other raw fruits and vegetables!

3. SPROUTS ARE NUTRIENT DENSE

Sprouting in your kitchen is like having a nutrient-rich mini garden in the house year-round!

Sprouts are essentially baby plants in their prime. During the sprouting stage, they actually have a greater concentration of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes than at any other point in the plants’ life cycle! #funfact

4. SPROUTS ARE EASY TO GROW

Growing sprouts takes little effort and time — all you need to do is provide the right conditions and let them do their thing!

Maybe you haven’t tried spouting before because you thought it was going to be a complicated process. Or perhaps, you didn’t have the right equipment.

I promise it’s easier than you think! Head here to learn how to give it a try!

IN CONCLUSION

Basically, if you don’t already, you need to get sprouts in your life right now!

Whether you grow them yourself or buy them, you’ll be amazed at how tasty these little powerhouses are and how easy they are to add into your life.

Comment below and tell us what you found most interesting about sprouts!

For more on Tammie, head here!