ONCE UPON A TIME…
Sprouting is the process of growing a plant from a seed.
Remember that time, in school, when you had to make a plant grow from an avocado seed?
You stuck toothpicks in it, plopped it in a glass of water, placed it in front of the window and then waited forever for it to grow.
Well, you were sprouting a seed.
SOME 3rd GRADER'S AVOCADO PLANT WE'RE TOTALLY JEALOUS OF.
INTO THE WOODS WE GO…
Grains are seeds.
Sometimes the seeds are called kernels or berries. It doesn't really matter, they are still seeds.
Grains that are used to make food come from grasses (plants) called cereal grasses. And, yes, that’s why your morning bowl of Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Cheerios, etc. are called breakfast cereals.
Wheat, rye, spelt, corn, rice, millet, and barley are some examples of cereal grains.
Seeds are made up of three separate parts.
The endosperm is the starchy interior and the biggest part of the seed. Starch is the seed's own sugar that it saves and uses for energy (food) later on. Kind of like a battery.
The bran is the outside layer of the seed. It's hard and rough and protects the seed. Your body can't completely breakdown and absorb the bran but that's what makes it a good thing. Bran helps to push waste out of the body. In other words, it helps you poop.
The germ is the living part of the seed that grows into a plant. The main source of nutrients (stuff your body needs to live) is in the germ.
THE THREE BASIC PARTS OF A GRAIN (SEED).
Sprouting a wheat seed changes its parts.
When the plant grows it uses the stored energy (endosperm) and breaks it down. This makes it easier for your body to use because the hard work has already been done by the plant.
Sprouting also stops a substance in seeds that keeps some nutrients (the good stuff) from being used by your body.
It's like a key that unlocks a door. When the door is unlocked your body can grab the stuff that is inside and use it.
WHEAT SEEDS THAT HAVE BEGUN TO SPROUT INTO NEW WHEAT PLANTS.
Once the seed has been properly sprouted it's dried and ground into flour.
The flour can be mixed up with water and other ingredients to make things like muffins, pasta, bread, tortillas, and pancakes.
Anything that is made with wheat flour can also be made with sprouted wheat flour.
SPROUTED WHEAT SEEDS & SPROUTED WHEAT FLOUR
SPROUTED WHEAT BREAD
THE MORAL OF THE STORY
Why might this be of interest to you?
Because when you eat foods that are made with sprouted wheat flour you get a lot more of the good stuff that your body needs to work right.
When you eat good food, you feel good.
And, that's it.
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