Health Benefits of Sprouts Steve Meyerowitz

Health Benefits of Sprouts
Steve Meyerowitz

Sprouts have long been famous as “health food” but recent researchshows that in addition to being a superb source of nutrients, they also haveimportant curative ability. Sprouts like alfalfa, radish, broccoli, clover andsoybean contain concentrated amounts of phytochemicals (plant compounds) thatcan protect us against disease.

Studieson canavanine, an amino acid analog in alfalfa, has demonstrated benefit forpancreatic, colon and leukemia cancers. Plant estrogens are also abundant insprouts. They increase bone formation and density and prevent bone breakdown orosteoporosis. They are also helpful in controlling hot flashes, menopause, PMSand fibrocystic breast tumors.

Alfalfasprouts are one of our finest food sources of another compound, saponins.Saponins lower the bad cholesterol and fat but not the good HDL fats. Animalstudies prove their benefit in arteriosclerosis is and cardiovascular disease.Saponins also stimulate the immune system by increasing the activity of naturalkiller cells such as T- lymphocytes and interferon. The saponin content ofalfalfa sprouts multiplies 450% over that of the unsprouted seed.

Sproutsalso contain an abundance of highly active antioxidants that prevent DNAdestruction and protect us from the ongoing effects of aging. It wouldn’t beinconceivable to find a fountain of youth here, after all, sprouts represent themiracle of birth.