FAQs
WHAT IS SPROUTING?
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Sprouting is the natural process by which seeds or spores germinate and put out shoots. They are one of the easiest foods you can grow indoors. They require barely any space—if you can fit a Mason jar on your counter, then you have enough space. They have amazing health benefits and they are easy to digest.
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IS IT SAFE TO SPROUT?
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There's been some discussion on why it's not safe to sprout due to salmonella and e.coli outbreaks from store bought sprouts. This happened because in warm climates, bacteria spreads more easily. And in large scale operations, such as grocery stores, it's impossible to keep the environment clear from pathogens. BUT when you sprout at home the chance of food borne illness is greatly diminshed because you have all the control! At home you sterilize your own jar, rinse frequently and control the temperature and environment. Air circulation is a big factor when sprouting. Your sprouts need to be rinsed to get rid of the waste they produce as they grow and the air provides oxygen that they need. Our kits come with a draining rack that will keep your jar at an angle to help the excess water drain and for optimum air flow. We've been sprouting for 2 years without any mould or bacteria problem!!
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Young shoots sprouted from the seeds of broccoli, Broccoli sprouts look a lot like alfalfa sprouts but are more akin to radish. They are a great source of antioxidants and are powerfully anti-carcinogenic. A beautiful violet, these sprouts look and taste great in salads, as a garnish, or on their own. We recommend our kits to sprout in because you can sprout in high volume in our large mason jars. The stainless steel mesh lid is perfect for draining with rusting. And our draining racks provide optimum air flow and convenience. We're tried tilting them up in bowls, it just didn't work! These items are tried and true and what we use to sprout with daily in our home!
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They are loaded with a substance called Sulforaphane. A compound that occurs in the body at a cellular level and it affects over 200 genes related to human immune function. This is the reason why sulforaphane is beneficial to our overall health and wellness by acting as a preventative and improving our defences against illness. Some examples of illnesses it can help:
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It can help the body combat and prevent cancer.
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An anti-inflammatory, broccoli sprouts have been of use in the treatment of asthma. Sulforaphane is the active ingredient, reducing the inflammation associated with asthma and other bronchial issues.
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Sprouted broccoli has proven effective in the treatment of peptic ulcers.
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High in the vitamins A, C, K and folate.
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A good source of dietary fibre, aiding in detoxification of the colon and digestive tract and preventing constipation.
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Rich in manganese, helping to combat free radicals.
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Regulates cholesterol in the blood, promoting cardiovascular health and well being.
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WHAT IS SULFORAPHANE GLUCOSINOLATE? AND WHAT DOES IT DO IN THE BODY?
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Sulforaphane Glucosinolate (SFN) is an active ingredient in broccoli proven to have anti-oxidant and detoxification benefits, as well as the promotion of cell integrity. SFN has received a great deal of attention because of its ability to simultaneously modulate multiple cellular targets involved in cancer development, including: (i) DNA protection by modulating carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes and blocking the action of mutagens; (ii) inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis, thereby retarding or eliminating clonal expansion of initiated, transformed, and/or neoplastic cells; (iii) inhibition of neoangiogenesis, progression of benign tumors to malignant tumors, and metastasis formation. SFN is therefore able to prevent, delay, or reverse preneoplastic lesions, as well as to act on cancer cells as a therapeutic agent. Taking into account this evidence and its favorable toxicological profile, SFN can be viewed as a conceptually promising agent in cancer prevention and/or therapy. SFN is the hydrolysis product of glucoraphanin, particularly high in the young sprouts of broccoli and cauliflower.
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ARE MY SPROUTS MOULDY? WHAT'S THAT WHITE FUZZ?
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If you see a white fuzz on your sprouts during the sprouting process, look very closely and you'll see that it's actually Cilia Hairs! Not mould!! All they mean is that your sprouts are thirsty, give them a good rinse and you'll see they disappear. There shouldn't be any mouldy smell. Keep in mind though the sprouts themselves don't smell great, that's the way they should be. Anyway, the cilia hairs are very common, completely safe and disappear once rinsed. Keep Sprouting! If you are still unsure, please shoot us a photo/message.
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WHAT DOES UNTREATED SEEDS MEAN?
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High Quality, Untreated Broccoli Sprouting Seeds with a tested 95% Germination rate. Untreated seeds specifically refers to the seed being free of chemical fungicide, insecticide or rodenticide as a seed coating. They are not certified or guaranteed to be organic, even though we source our seeds from Organic Farms/Suppliers. Untreated sprouting seeds are Food Quality and have a high sprouting rate, meaning you'll get beautiful green sprouts in apprx 5 days. They come in a food-grade, resealable pouch and have a shelf life of approximately 2 years. Consumed fresh, and sprouted at the 4-6 day mark, they contain the highest amounts of Sulforaphane which has immense health benefits. To learn more, go to our home page!