By Staff Writer - December, 18th 2013

Why are sprouts so popular? One of the best reasons is the taste! But sprouts are also a fantastic source of locally-grown nutrition. In fact you can easily grow them yourself. Here are five great health benefits you can gain by adding sprouts to your diet:

1.  Experts estimate that there can be up to 100 times more enzymes in sprouts than uncooked fruits and vegetables.  Enzymes are special types of proteins that act as catalysts for all your body’s functions. Extracting more vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and essential fatty acids from the foods you eat ensures that your body has the nutritional building blocks of life to ensure every process works more effectively.

2.  The quality of the protein in the beans, nuts, seeds, or grains improves when it is sprouted.  Proteins change during the soaking and sprouting process, improving its nutritional value.  The amino acid lysine, for example, which is needed to prevent cold sores and to maintain a healthy immune system increases significantly during the sprouting process.

Broccoli Sprouts

3.  The fiber content of the beans, nuts, seeds, or grains increases substantially.  Fiber is critical to weight loss.  It …

Source: Care2

Photo: Vigilant20 on Flickr