Many people are surprised when they hear that bean sprouts are eaten. Few people know that this product brings invaluable benefits to the body.. Sprouted beans are one of the main ingredients for raw foodists, as well as people leading a healthy lifestyle. Let's look at why sprouted beans are so beneficial and what contraindications exist for their use.
How to sprout beans
Before describing germination methods, it is worth noting that not all varieties of legumes are suitable for this.For example, red or white beans should absolutely not be sprouted, as this can lead to severe poisoning. The best varieties for raw consumption are the angular adzuki beans and Indian mung beans. In fact, these are the only types of legumes that can be sprouted. The sprouts of these varieties are spicy and sweetish in taste.
To germinate beans, take any container that is on the farm. It could be a plate, a glass, a bowl. In addition, you can buy a seed germinator at a specialty store. This is a convenient piece of equipment, but by no means necessary.
The only thing that raw foodists recommend purchasing for sprouting beans at home is a sprouter - a universal system designed not only for automatic irrigation of sprouts, but also for maintaining optimal humidity and temperature conditions. With such equipment, sprouting beans requires virtually no effort. You only need to change the water once a day.
If the sprouter is not available, you can sprout beans manually. In order for the sprouts to have a pleasant taste and fresh aroma, it is necessary to build the correct structure. To do this you need:
- Take two containers - one with a deep bottom, the other with holes, which will allow you to remove excess water.
- A sieve is suitable as a second container. Its bottom is lined with gauze, placed in a deep container and filled with Indian bean seeds.
- Then the mung bean is filled with water and left for a couple of hours in a dark and warm place.
- Water the beans every 3 hours. After 10 hours, the beans are washed and excess water is drained.
- The washed mung beans are left to germinate. It is important that this process is not accompanied by exposure to sunlight. Sprout beans only in a dark place.
A day later the first shoots appear. They can be eaten immediately, although some raw foodists prefer to leave the beans for a few more days and only then eat them.
Note! Sprouts that germinate for more than a day must be washed and dried. Otherwise, they will lose all useful components.
Immediately before eating the sprouts, peel them and wash them again. Only fresh sprouts are eaten. This product is not recommended to be refrigerated or frozen.
What beans contain - chemical composition, vitamins and microelements
Sprouted beans are low in calories. There are only 30 kcal per 100 grams of product. The composition of sprouted beans includes:
- fats;
- proteins;
- carbohydrates.
100 grams of product contains the daily dose of these ingredients.
Also, sprouted beans contain large quantities of B vitamins and vitamin C. The mineral components present in the composition are:
- magnesium;
- calcium;
- phosphorus;
- iron;
- zinc;
- sodium;
- copper;
- manganese and many other health-promoting microelements.
The composition of the product is so universal that the body will receive all the substances necessary for life, even if a person eats only sprouts.
Where is it used?
Bean sprouts are widely used in cooking. Most often they are added to fresh vegetable salads. It is worth noting that it has now become fashionable to prepare dishes that use sprouted beans. This is primarily due to the fact that more and more people prefer a healthy lifestyle.
Many will be surprised, but sprouted beans are also used in various baked goods. They make delicious sauces and first courses.The nutritional value of the product allows it to be used not only as one of the ingredients for a dish, but also eaten as a side dish for meat or fish.
Sprouts are also popular in folk medicine. They are used with particular enthusiasm in Asian countries. Sprouts less than 3 cm in length are consumed for the following conditions:
- obesity;
- hypertension;
- decreased immunity;
- atherosclerosis;
- heart diseases;
- diabetes.
In addition, sprouts are known for their anti-aging and anti-cancer effects. Regular consumption of sprouted beans will prolong youth and reduce the likelihood of cancer.
Nowadays, whole complexes of therapeutic nutrition are very popular. Special diets involve combining sprouted beans with buckwheat, wheat, oat sprouts, berries and medicinal herbal decoctions.
Before use, the sprouts are carefully sorted. Rotten and spoiled parts must be thrown away. Only juicy and crunchy parts of plants are eaten.
Beneficial features
Sprouted beans contain more beneficial microelements than regular beans. They are very nutritious and at the same time dietary. That is why this product is often called “live food”. In order to clearly understand the beneficial properties of sprouts, let’s consider what benefits they bring to the body:
- normalize the functioning of the nervous system (produce a calming effect on the body);
- replenish the lack of vitamins, as a result of which the aging process in the body slows down;
- cleanse the intestines of waste and toxins;
- improve heart function;
- have an antimicrobial effect, which significantly reduces the likelihood of colds;
- normalize metabolism.
Another benefit of bean sprouts is that they are low in calories. Thus, they are included in the diet when losing weight. These beans are known for their diuretic and antimicrobial effects. Sometimes it can replace pharmaceutical drugs.
Sprouted beans have a unique ability to reduce blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is strongly recommended for use by patients with diabetes.
Sprouted beans - benefits and harms
Since ancient times, sprouts have been considered the richest food. These plants are rich in enzymes; their regular use improves the functioning of almost all organs and systems. But the usefulness of sprouted mung bean does not end there. It is used for weight loss and rejuvenation. Women who eat legume sprouts look much younger than their age.
Not only the condition of the skin improves, but also hair, nails, and teeth.
If you compare regular beans with sprouted beans, the latter contains three times more vitamin E and five times more vitamins B and C. About 50 grams of sprouts replaces six glasses of natural orange juice.
Sprouted beans can be combined with all foods. In this regard, it has no restrictions. The parallel consumption of berries, vegetables, and fruits is especially useful.
It is extremely beneficial to combine bean sprouts with wheat and oat sprouts. In addition, legume sprouts are used externally for lotions and compresses. This allows you to remove puffiness and swelling from the affected area. The sprouts are also used for rheumatism, arthritis, and gout. The product is added to skin care products. Rejuvenating face masks are especially popular.Thus, sprouted beans have the following effects:
- antibacterial;
- wound healing;
- anti-inflammatory;
- tonic;
- rejuvenating;
- anti-cancer.
But no matter how useful the product is, it is worth observing moderation. Its consumption in large quantities causes flatulence, decreased blood pressure, diarrhea and colic.
Contraindications
It is not recommended to consume sprouted beans for people with individual intolerance to the components of their composition. Caution is also necessary for chronic gastrointestinal diseases in the acute stage.
Since there is a possibility of sprout intolerance, caution should be exercised when first consuming. Initially, a small amount of sprouts is added to the food, after which the body’s reaction is observed. If an allergic reaction occurs, use should be stopped. If there are no negative reactions, the number of sprouts added to food is subsequently increased. But you shouldn’t abuse it, just like other products.
