Alfalfa Sprouts: The Immune System Booster

That’s one powerful little sprout!

Someone mentioned to me that alfalfa sprouts are known for boosting your immune system. Really? This lead to some general research and “Googling” to find out more on the topic.

First a little background on sprouting, courtesy of the Harmony Health Center: Sprouts represent the point of greatest vitality in the life cycle of a plant. During sprouting, vitamin and enzyme content increases dramatically. The sprouting process predigests the nutrients of the seed, making it easier to assimilate and metabolize: starches are converted into simple sugars, proteins into free amino acids, and fats into free fatty acids. This explains why grains and legumes, many of which are common allergens, often do not cause allergies when sprouted.

And now for the good stuff: 

The alfalfa sprout is considered more nutritionally concentrated than other sprouts. It contains all known vitamins: vitamin A, the B complex, C, D, E, K, and U. It also includes biotin, calcium, carotene (equal to carrots), choline, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, protein, sodium, sulfur, and tryptophan, and it is a rich source of chlorophyll. It acts as a diuretic, which benefits the urinary and intestinal systems, and helps to detoxify the body. Alfalfa sprouts contain 8 enzymes which help to assimilate protein, fats and carbohydrates.

How To Eat Sprouts:

Sprouts of any kind are eaten best in raw form. Include them in your salads, sandwiches, wraps, veggie burgers, or add them into your homemade juices. Cut them down if you feel they are too “stringy” for you, whichever method best helps you to consume the power of this amazing little sprout.

One Additional Note:

There is a note of caution with respect to this vegetable: alfalfa sprouts have higher than usual amounts of an amino acid called canavanine, which has been associated with worsening of inflammatory conditions. So if you have a pre-existing inflammatory condition, you should consider alternative green foods to help improve your health and boost your immune system.

By rawfoodnation Tags: alfalfa sprouts, biotin, calcium, carotene, chlorophyll, immune system, iron, magnesium, potassium, protien, sprouts, vitamin a, vitamin b, vitamin c, vitamin d, vitamin e, vitamin k
Posted in Raw Foods | 4 Comments »

4 Responses to “Alfalfa Sprouts: The Immune System Booster”

1. rawenergy says:

   February 8, 2009 at 1:30 am

   how do you buy these?
   I seen some sprouts at the local store, in a plastic container, that looked like a flower pot? is that it?

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2. rawfoodnation01 says:

   February 8, 2009 at 9:31 pm

   Hmmm, we’ve definitely seen them in plastic containers at local/fair trade grocers and also at Wholefoods. If you saw them in a flower pot, perhaps it was a kit for growing your own sprouts? Some raw enthusiast grow their own sprouts and others that don’t have space are satisfied with what they find in the grocerty store. Sprouts are commonly used as toppings for sandwiches/wraps in many raw and vegan meals. Make sure they are organic if you plan on giving them a try! Thanks for the comment )

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3. rawenergy says:

   February 8, 2009 at 9:36 pm

   Oh thats a kit, so how do I buy the real stuff ?

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4. rawfoodnation01 says:

   February 9, 2009 at 9:43 pm

   Try the produce section at your local grocery store or at the nearest Wholefoods. Wholefoods has the most variety of sprouts. They should come in a small pastic container, sprouts only (no dirt). Definitely good to add to salads, wraps and other dishes. There are other types of sprouts too, which we will of coarse catalog in the blog as we go. Let us know what you think!

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