Sprouted grains are starting to become pretty popular in healthy eating circles. They might be something you have heard of and thought about adding to your diet. You may be aware of their incredible benefits already, but if not, then you should read on to see how they can help you. As you might surmise, sprouted grains are grains that come from brown rice, buckwheat and other grains that have been made to sprout. Usually they are soaked in water to force the sprouts out. The shoots are not allowed to fully grow, though, and the growing process is stopped before it can go any further.
A lot of people consider them nutritionally superior to whole grains, and there are several scientific studies that appear to agree with this notion. Why should you eat sprouted grains instead of whole grains, though? Let’s take a look.
We have been advised by nutritionists for decades to eat whole grains instead of processed grains. White bread, it is understood, is not very good for your health. It can contribute to obesity and type 2 diabetes. That’s because it tends to have a lot of sugar and be highly processed.
People who are concerned about their health and what they eat try to consume whole grain instead of white bread. However, sprouted grains may be an even healthier alternative, offering additional benefits that whole grains cannot.
Scientific study of sprouted grains show that they are great for encouraging the production of healthy gut bacteria. They are also easy for your body to digest, and they actually improve the digestive system. Furthermore, they offer substantial protein, vitamins and fibre. They can even regulate blood sugar, since they rank low on the glycemic index.
Now, while all that sounds wonderful, there is still some mystery as to just how healthy these are for us. There is some debate as to whether the health benefits are lost when the grains are cooked, with some experts saying cooking causes severe nutritional wasting, while others say there is minimal impact.
One way to get around that problem is to eat these grains in salads in their raw form or to serve them as a side dish.
Can we consider sprouted grains to be the next superfood? We still recommend that you eat a diet that contains plenty of whole grains, but there may be benefits to incorporating sprouted grains into your diet. The evidence gathered so far points to greater health benefits when sprouted grains are a part of the diet.
If you have tried sprouted grains and have an experience to share, please let us know in the comments below.
