Got Sprouts?

They're not only good for you, but they taste good, too. Sprouts are also a great source of vitamins, fiber, protein, anti-oxidants, and enzymes. A sprout is produced when a seed starts growing into a vegetable. Sprouts can grow from the seeds of vegetables, from grains such as buckwheat, and from beans. While Mung beans are perhaps the most common source of sprouts, you can also obtain good results from lentils, soybeans and chickpeas just to name a few.

Sprouts can be grown almost anywhere and the best part is you only need a few basic supplies to get started. By following a few simple steps, you can receive a continual supply of nutritious sprouts.

While there are several commercial products available to cultivate sprouts, here are some of the easiest methods to help you get started.

- Growing Sprouts in Flower Pots -

1. Start with a clean clay or plastic flower pot. Make sure there is a hole in the bottom of the pot to ensure good drainage. Then place a piece of cheesecloth or muslin in the bottom of the pot over the hole so that the seeds/beans cannot fall out.

2. Next, soak the seeds or beans overnight and then put them in the pot. Remove any that are broken or damaged. Cover the plant pot with a dish.

3. Once a day, hold the pot under running water for a few minutes. This is to soak the seeds/beans thoroughly.

4. Once the sprouts begin to show, remove the dish and cover the pot with a piece of clear plastic wrap to let in the light. Place the sprouting pot near a window that allows daylight but is not in direct sunlight.

- Growing the Sprouts in Trays -

1. Soak the seeds or beans overnight. Remove any that are broken or damaged before you begin the sprouting process.

2. Select a low, flat dish (like a pie plate) or tray. You can purchase growing trays wherever planting supplies are sold.

3. Next, spread out a 2-inch layer of soil and then sprinkle the soaked seeds or beans on top of the soil.

4. Cover the seeds/beans with four layers of damp newspaper.

5. Cover the top of the tray with clear plastic wrap.

6. When the sprouts start to lift the plastic cover, (usually about three days) remove the newspaper.

7. Place the tray in a window so that the light can turn the sprouts green. You will need a space to place the sprouting tray that receives daylight but is not in direct sunlight.

8. Because the thin layer of soil dries out quickly, water twice each day.

9. After about 8-10 days, you will have sprouts tall enough to harvest.

- Growing Sprouts in a Jar -

1. Soak the seeds, grains, or beans in lukewarm water overnight in a wide-mouth glass jar. Remove any that are broken or damaged before you begin the sprouting process. (Sprouting increases the seed volume. 4-tablespoons will be sufficient for a quart size container.)

2. In the morning, pour off the water in the jar and rinse the seeds/beans thoroughly.

3. Place a piece of cheesecloth or muslin over the mouth of the jar. Use a rubber band to hold the material securely in place. This makes rinsing easier.

4. To keep the sprouts constantly damp, repeat the rinsing 2-3 times a day. Remember to drain any excess water because the sprouts should not stand in water.

5. Keep the jar away from the light for the first few days.

6. When the seeds/beans begin to sprout, (usually about the forth day) move the jar into the light to activate the chlorophyll and turn the sprouts green.

- Harvesting and Storing the Sprouts -

Newly germinated grain, seed, and sprouts, increase in food value in the very first period of growth. Grains should be harvested and eaten from when they are six days old until they are 4-5 inches tall. To harvest, just take your kitchen scissors and cut what you need.

Sprouts from beans, peas, etc., are ready earlier and can be eaten when they are 3-6 days old, depending on the type of sprout. For spouts grown in no soil or in seed trays, you can harvest the green "grass" when it starts to grow. Sprouts, from grain sown in jars, are ready sooner and are edible even before they turn green. Seeds sown in soil take a little longer.

If necessary, wash the sprouts thoroughly to remove the seed coat. Sprouts need to be stored in the refrigerator once they are ready to eat. Put the sprouts in tight sealing bags, and they will remain flavorful and crisp for one to two weeks. Rinsing the sprouts daily under cold water can extend their life.

Sprouts may be frozen by blanching them over steam for three minutes and then cooling them in ice water. Drain them and pack into freezer containers.

By growing your own sprouts, you will save yourself money because it is less expensive to buy sprout seeds and grow and harvest the sprouts yourself than it is to buy the sprouts from a market. Sprouting at home takes only a few minutes a day, and can produce a good part of your daily requirements of the nutrients you need from fresh produce. The hassles are minor, the costs are low, and the freshness is wonderful.

Pia Nutro operates http://www.forvegetables.com She has studied nutrition and understands the importance of vegetables in the diet. Visit http://www.forvegetables.com often for up to date information on vegetables.

---

Google News Updated : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:06:27 GMT McPalin ready to “break some chinaâ€� - FOXNews McPalin ready to “break some chinaâ€� FOXNews - 1 hour ago by Mosheh Oinounou STERLING HEIGHTS, MI - John McCain is warning Washington that he and Sarah Palin are a “team of mavericksâ€� ready to “break some china. John McCain, Sarah Palin, and "Rights" Huffington Post Comment by Deborah L. Rhode Dir., Ctr. for the Legal Profession, Stanford Univ Financial Times - Voice of America - Wall Street Journal - Reiten Television KXMB Bismarck all 1,755 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:08:24 GMT McCain seizes on theme of ‘change’ - Financial Times Telegraph.co.uk McCain seizes on theme of ‘change’ Financial Times - 1 hour ago By Daniel Dombey in Washington John McCain accepted the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday night by seeking to wrest the mantle of change from Barack Obama in a speech that mixed appeals to patriotism, criticism of Washington and a promise ... John McCain and Barack Obama focus on job losses, economy Los Angeles Times McCain, Obama Vie For 'Reformist' Mantle Washington Post New York Daily News - Nevada Appeal - CNN Political Ticker - The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com all 1,672 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:07:54 GMT Google Chrome Hit With Another Security Bug - CRN PR Web (press release) Google Chrome Hit With Another Security Bug CRN - 2 hours ago By Stefanie Hoffman, ChannelWeb Less than a week after the release of Google's new Web browser Chrome, security researchers detected a buffer overflow vulnerability that could enable remote attackers to completely take control of a user's computer. NetSuite boasts of Google Chrome support CNET News Chrome reflects need for internet speed Financial Times PC World - InformationWeek - San Jose Mercury News - InfoWorld all 183 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:33:46 GMT Silver State of Nevada Is 11th Bank Failure This Year (Update1) - Bloomberg Silver State of Nevada Is 11th Bank Failure This Year (Update1) Bloomberg - 21 minutes ago By Alison Vekshin and Ari Levy Sept. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Silver State Bank of Henderson, Nevada was closed by US regulators today, the 11th bank to collapse this year amid a surge in soured real-estate loans stemming from the worst housing slump since the ... Regulators Shutter Silver State Bank Wall Street Journal Regulators close Silver State Bank in Henderson, Nevada Reuters USA Today - KXNT all 67 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:45:10 GMT Some See a Fighting Spirit as Detroit Mayor’s Ruin - New York Times BBC News Some See a Fighting Spirit as Detroit Mayor’s Ruin New York Times - 48 minutes ago By SUSAN SAULNY and NICK BUNKLEY DETROIT - When it looked to most people around here as if a 31-year-old might be too young to win a mayoral election, Kwame M. Kilpatrick decided to take on the fight, and the reward was his inauguration in 2002 as ... Video: A Timeline of Detroit Mayor's Text Scandal AssociatedPress Kilpatrick, Cockrel to meet; 140 could lose jobs DetNews.com Los Angeles Times - Detroit Free Press - Wall Street Journal - CNN International all 5,085 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:18:12 GMT Palin is catapulted into starring role - Financial Times Washington Post Palin is catapulted into starring role Financial Times - 1 hour ago By Edward Luce and Andrew Ward It was the loudest and most prolonged cheer since Barack Obama appeared on the podium last week in Denver. Video: "Change is coming," McCain tells convention - 05 Sept 2008 AlJazeeraEnglish Comment by John S. Baick Professor of History, Western New England College KCBD-TV - TIME - MSNBC - CBS News all 5,407 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:07:45 GMT Republicans Take Heart; Heart Takes It Back - E! Online E! Online Republicans Take Heart; Heart Takes It Back E! Online - 10 hours ago AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato Ann and Nancy Wilson are hoping the Republicans change their tune—and aren't planning on waiting until November to find out. Republicans Lack Heart! TMZ.com Heart Duo Furious Over Republicans' Use of 'Barracuda' San Francisco Chronicle NME.com - MTV.com - eFluxMedia - Rolling Stone all 144 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:42:08 GMT RSS For Web Pages Increase Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Guerilla Health Tactics: 5 Snappy Rules For a Healthier, Happier You

The subject of health care itself often seems plagued with... Read More

The Toxic Truth About Artificial Sweeteners

The problem with sugar is that it doesn't contain any... Read More

The Most Effective Treatments for Acid Reflux Disease

Acid reflux disease, or GERD, is a common compliant of... Read More

Magnesium Deficiency Causes Personality Change and WLS Patients are at Risk

Have you ever felt like you were completely losing your... Read More

The Great Influence Of Vitamin B to the Nervous System

In order for a person to actually have a healthy... Read More

Seasonings: Add More Than Just Flavor

Besides providing taste, color, and aroma, certain seasonings can also... Read More

Death, Aging, Rejuvenation (Part 4)

Biological clockObviously you need biological clock to time and alarm... Read More

Got Sprouts?

They're not only good for you, but they taste good,... Read More

Five Reasons You Should Drink More Water

I know you've heard this many times - "Drink more... Read More

The New Food Pyramid: Another Attempt At Providing Easy Answers

The Food Pyramid, first introduced to the US in 1992,... Read More

Maximizing Your Nutrition Dollar

Because of consumer demand, the food industry focus is on... Read More

Saturated Fat Diet Piles on Pounds Around Organs

Having a large amount of such "visceral fat" is associated... Read More

Glycemic Index of Foods

All carbohydrates are not the same. Generally it is assumed... Read More

The Two Faces of Chlorine

If you are like most people, you don't enjoy the... Read More

How to Stop Bad Breath In 4 Refreshing Steps

OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone... Read More

Clues for Fibromyalgia Relief

Fibromyalgia is a chronic and potentially life-altering disorder with symptoms... Read More

The Meat You Eat: How Corporate Farming Has Endangered Americas Food Supply

Factory FarmingThe big names in American agriculture would like you... Read More

Unhealthy Foods: How To Become Disgusted By Junk Foods That Make You Fat

With today's time constraints, stressful jobs, and "thin is in"... Read More

Mangos: Treat Your Skin and Your Taste Buds

Mango is my favorite fruit next to pineapples. They're sweet,... Read More

Healthy Eating for Executives on the Run

For the executive, maintaining the much-needed balance between career, family,... Read More

Not All Protein is Created Equally

America's focus on nutritious eating began to receive national attention... Read More

The Omega Zone Diet and Fish Oil

The Omega Zone Diet and specialists' opinion"Omega RX Zone -... Read More

The History of Ambrotose® Complex

Ambrotose® - the Nutritional Alphabet of the "Sweet Language of... Read More

The Many Benefits of Green Tea Extract

The Benefits of Green Tea Extract: Anti-Aging, Anti-Cancer, Weight Control... Read More

3 Important Differences Between White Bread and Whole Wheat

For any kid who grew up eating doughy, thick Wonder... Read More