Health Benefits Of Sprouts

Now, let’s explore some of the fascinating and vital health benefits that sprouts hold for us!

1. Improve Digestion

One of the best things about sprouts is that they contain an unusually high number of enzymes. This can help boost various metabolic processes and chemical reactions within the body, specifically when it comes to digestion. Enzymes are an important part of the digestive process, and they help break down food effectively and increase the absorption of nutrients by the digestive tract. Furthermore, the dietary fiber in sprouts makes them an important boost for digestive functions. Fiber bulks up the stool, making it easier to pass through the digestive tract. Dietary fiber also stimulates gastric juices, which aid the enzymes already found in sprouts in breaking down food effectively and efficiently. They are a great way to clear up constipation, as well as diarrhea, and can even prevent colorectal cancer.

2. Sprouts Boost Metabolism

As already mentioned, sprouts contain a wealth of enzymes that usually aren’t available through food. This major influx represents a kick start for the body, and can seriously impact its metabolic activity. Beyond that, sprouts also contain a significant amount of protein, which is the essential part of food that allows our body to perform all of its chemical functions. Protein is necessary for almost all bodily processes, particularly the creation and maintenance of cells, organ repair, skin regeneration, bone growth, and muscle development. This means that sprouts are an easy and delicious way to improve the overall functioning and development of your body. This high nutritive content is also why sprouts are so highly recommended for vegetarians and vegans since only meat is considered as a traditionally important source of protein. They can replace that source of protein for many people.

Also Read: Benefits Of Star Anise

3. Prevent Anemia

Anemia is the technical word for an iron deficiency. If you don’t consume enough food with iron, your red blood cell count drops, because iron is an essential part of red blood cell production. This can result in fatigue, lack of concentration, nausea, light-headedness, and stomach disorders. By maintaining your red blood cell count with proper amounts of iron (and copper, which is also found in sprouts), you can improve the circulation of blood in your body, thereby increasing the oxygenation of organ systems and cells to optimize their performance.

4. Weight Loss

Sprouts are one of those foods that are very high in nutrients but very low in calories. This means that you can eat them without worrying about compromising your diet. Furthermore, the fiber in sprouts helps to make you feel full, both by adding bulk to your bowels and also by inhibiting the release of ghrelin, which is the hunger hormone that tells our mind that we are ready to eat something. This can reduce snacking and overeating between meals, two of the biggest problems for someone suffering from the problem of obesity.

5. Improve Heart Health

Sprouts are a great source of omega-3 fatty acid, and although these are technically a form of cholesterol, they are considered “good” cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) and can actually reduce the amount of harmful cholesterol in your blood vessels and arteries. Omega-3 fatty acids are also anti-inflammatory in nature, so they reduce the stress on your cardiovascular system as well. The potassium content of sprouts also helps to reduce blood pressure, since potassium is a vasodilator, and can release the tension in arteries and blood vessels. This increases circulation and oxygenation while reducing clotting and lowering the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.

6. Prevent Neural Tube Defects

Neural tube defects are one of the most common side effects of a deficiency of folate, a member of the B vitamin complex. Sprouts have a significant amount of folate, thereby protecting infants from this tragic condition.

Also Read: Health Benefits of Chestnuts

7. Boost Immune System

There are a number of factors that make sprouts a powerful booster for the immune system. Its vitamin-C content alone makes it a powerful stimulant for the white blood cells in the body to fight off infection and disease. Furthermore, as a sprout continues to develop, vitamin A can multiply almost ten times its original content. Vitamin A has a number of antioxidant properties that make a great source of immune system strength.

8. Prevent Cancer

The antioxidant activity of the organic compounds found in sprouts makes it a very good anti-cancer choice for your diet. The vitamin C, and A, as well as amino acids and proteins (including the huge amount of enzymes), can also impact the free radical content in the body. Free radicals are the natural, dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism that can cause healthy cells to mutate into cancerous cells. They are also responsible for some heart diseases, premature aging, cognitive decline, and a variety of age-related health concerns. Sprouts can counteract these effects, thereby reducing the chances of developing cancer.

9. Eye Care

Vitamin A has been associated with an improvement in vision health for many years. It acts as an antioxidant agent to protect the eyes’ cells from free radicals. In this way, sprouts can help prevent glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. In fact, it can help improve vision too, so eat your sprouts and start seeing the world a bit more clearly!

10. Relieve Cold Sores

Cold sores can be an unsightly, painful, and uncomfortable condition to suffer through. If they get infected, they can even become a serious health risk. There is a specific enzyme, called lysine, which inhibits the growth of cold sores and treats them if they appear. This enzyme is conveniently found in significant amounts in sprouts!