Much of food in the Standard American Diet is heavily processed, overcooked, bleached, irradiated and genetically modified. If that is not enough, it is full of refined sugar, preservatives, pesticides, artificial colors and flavors, hormones and antibiotics.
This diet places an enormous amount of stress on the body.
Additional stress comes from toxins in the air we breathe and in the water we drink.
With prolonged stress, our body begins to weaken and break down. This is what is known as disease. As we know from the Pottenger Cat study, most of us came into this world in a genetically weakened state. Eating the Standard American Diet further weakens an already weakened body.
In order to heal we must do things to counteract years of stress on the body. Eating healthy or better is just not enough. We must give the body foods that are full of life force. These foods are known as Superfoods.
Sprouts are one of the most complete and nutritious foods.
Sprouts are rich with vitamins, minerals, proteins, and enzymes. Their nutritional value was discovered by the Chinese thousands of years ago. Recently, in the U.S., numerous scientific studies have shown the importance of sprouts in a healthy diet.
In addition to providing the highest amount of vitamins, minerals, proteins and enzymes of any food per unit of calorie, sprouts deliver them in a form which is easily assimilated and digested. In fact, sprouts improve the efficiency of digestion. Sprouts are also deliciously fresh and colorful.
Sprouts like alfalfa, radish, broccoli, clover and soybean contain concentrated amounts of phytochemicals (plant compounds) that can protect us against disease.
Alfalfa sprouts are one of our finest food sources of another compound, saponins. Saponins lower the bad cholesterol and fat but not the good HDL fats. Animal studies prove their benefit in arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
Saponins also stimulate the immune system by increasing the activity of natural killer cells such as T-lymphocytes and interferon. The saponin content of alfalfa sprouts multiplies 450% over that of the unsprouted seed.
Sprouts also contain an abundance of highly active antioxidants that prevent DNA destruction and protect us from the ongoing effects of aging.
Sprout can be added to you salads and green smoothies, eaten alone, or placed inside of your favorite sprouted grain tortilla.