Vegetarianism and raw food enthusiasts fall into many different groups with different theories of what kind of natural foods are best. Most vegetarians eat fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains. Vegans eat no animal by-products at all, including dairy or eggs. Fruitarians eat primarily fruits. And some vegetarians eat only sprouts.
Sprouts are very nutritious because they contain all the elements a plant needs for life and growth. According to Dr. Gabriel Cousens, in his book, Conscious Eating, sprouts are considered as biogenic food, with the highest life force rating. These foods are life-generating or life-renewing. The endosperm of seed is the storehouse of carbohydrates, protein, and oil. When the seed germinates, these become predigested amino acids, and natural sugars upon which the plant embryo feeds to grow. This life force we eat is filled with energy which is capable of generating cells of the body and supplying us with new vigor, aliveness and life. For this reason sprouts can retard the ageing process as they rebalance biophysical and biochemical functioning, increase cellular vitality, and assist in restoring healthy metabolism and normal weight. Research shows that sprouts are among the highest food in vitamins, even in dry form.
Sprouts contain goodly amounts of male and female hormones, as well, in their most easily assimilated form. They are not only a low cost food but are also tasty and easy to grow.
Almost any seed, grain or legume can be sprouted though some are more tastier than others. You may try mung beans, alfalfa, wheat, peas, fenugreek, chickpeas, radish, fennel, celery seed, etc. These are most readily found in natural food stores. Remember to soak small seeds only for 4 hours and beans for 15 hours. You also can mix these seeds. Get a 2 liter wide-mouth jar and a piece of cheesecloth or old nylon stocking to fasten as a cover with a rubber band. Put seed into the jar as follows:
- 2 Tsps alfalfa
- 2 Tsps radish or fenugreek
- 1/2 cup lentils
- 1/2 cup mung beans
Soak these seeds for 15 hours and drain the water. Afterward rinse and drain well twice daily for about 3-5 days. If you wish to make larger amounts of sprouts, so you may share with others, place 2 cups of mixed seed into a large porcelain pot, in the bottom of which holes have been drilled for easy rinsing. Simply place underneath the faucet and rinse morning and evening with warm water. Cover with a plate. The seeds grow beautifully and abundantly in a few days.