The Complete Guide to Sprouting at Home

Want to learn about a simple way to get 30X the nutrition in the vegetables you eat?  Read on….

Last month, I shared the one food that contains gluten that I actually LOVE to eat. Read it here.

The reason I recommend it when I tell you to stay away from anything else with gluten as much as possible comes down to one word: SPROUTING!

Sprouted grains can be more easily digested by humans and have a significantly lower antinutrient load. So you actually benefit from the nutrients in the grains.

Our ancestors were keeping in mind something we’ve mostly forgotten when they made bread – plants with antinutrients can ward off pests because they make them sick. It’s a protective part of the plant. Unfortunately, they have the same reaction in humans as in pests when we don’t digest wheat and gluten products well.

What is sprouting?

Sprouting is a traditional process you can do at home. It involves soaking and germinating just about any type of grain, nut, bean, or seed, as long as it raw and certified pathogen-free.

By allowing the seeds or grains to soak and then produce sprouts, they shed the antinutrients like phytic acid and polyphenols that prevent the grains from being broken down in the digestive process.

Sprouting means…

• You ingest more nutrients, especially magnesium, zinc, vitamin B12, and iron.
• Your body digests foods easier.
• You absorb more of the protein from your foods.
• You eat more good fiber.

Making Your Own Sprouts 

You can make your own sprouted grains, beans, or seeds at home in your kitchen.

It’s important that you read up on the right way to sprout first because it is possible to spread or create harmful bacteria in the sprouting process. Use sterile containers that are only for sprouting.

Let’s walk through the steps of sprouting:

1. Buy seeds, grains, or beans that come from a source that is certified pathogen-free and works for sprouting. Burpee is a great brand to go with because even some of the other brands that are labeled raw use seeds that have been irradiated and/or pasteurized, so they won’t sprout.
2. Rinse the seeds, grains, or beans in enough water so they are covered for at least one minute. Remove any floating debris.
3. Using your sterilized sprouting bowl, place the seeds, grains, or beans in several inches of water and cover with a kitchen towel (optional). Leave them to soak for a length of time that depends on what you’re sprouting:

• Quinoa: 6 hours
• Wheatberries: 7 hours
• Wild rice: 9 hours
• Pumpkin, sesame, or sunflower seeds: 8 hours
• Chickpeas: 8-12 hours
• Lentils, black beans, or adzuki beans: 8 hours

Once they are done soaking, they will have expanded quite a bit as they’ve taken on more water.

4. Strain them and sprout right away or keep them in the refrigerator for up to two days.
5. When you’re ready to sprout, leave them out somewhere they’ll be exposed to air and add 1 or 2 tablespoons of water so they are damp. They should be left out for a length of time that depends on what you’re sprouting:

• Quinoa: 1-3 days
• Wheatberries: 3-4 days
• Wild rice: 3-5 days
• Pumpkin, sesame, or sunflower seeds: 1-3 days
• Chickpeas: 2-3 days
• Lentils, black beans, or adzuki beans: 2-3 days

6. When they’re ready, sprouts will be anywhere from 1/8 of an inch to 2 inches long. Rinse and drain them well. They can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a few days, but they should be rinsed and drained daily to keep them from growing bacteria.

What Can You Do With Sprouts?

You can use sprouted grains, seeds, or beans in place of non-sprouted varieties in just about any recipe.

One of the most popular things to do with sprouts is to make your own Ezekiel bread because it’s so much better for you than the kind you can buy in any store. Stay tuned because on Thursday, I’ll be sharing the recipe we use to make our own Ezekiel sprouted bread at home.

Keep in mind, if you’re going to eat any gluten products, included sprouted grains, you want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to minimize the effects of the acid you’re consuming. That means adding Daily Greens and Minerals to your routine every day.

AlkaMind Daily Minerals every night will ensure you’re getting enough calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium bicarbonate to neutralize any acid that has built up in your system.

AlkaMind Daily Greens will supplement the essential nutrients your body may be lacking.

Stock up on Daily Minerals and Daily Greens now!