Sunflower sprouts: can you eat them, chemical composition, benefits and harms, reviews

Content

1 Is it possible to eat sunflower sprouts?
2 Chemical composition of sunflower seedlings
3 What are the benefits of sunflower sprouts?
4 Harm of sunflower sprouts
5 Contraindications to the use of sunflower sprouts
6 Medicinal properties of sunflower sprouts
7 How to germinate sunflower sprouts
8 Rules for using sprouted sunflower seeds
9 The use of sunflower sprouts in folk medicine
10 Conclusion
11 Reviews of sunflower microgreens

Sunflower seedlings are small shoots that can be obtained from seeds at home in 7-10 days. They contain antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial components. Microgreens are recommended for use for preventive purposes.

Is it possible to eat sunflower sprouts?

Sunflower sprouts are seedlings up to 4-5 cm high with 2-3 leaves, which are easy to obtain at home. Sunflower microgreens (pictured) are pale green with a yellowish tint; at this time, the sprouts do not yet have time to completely free themselves from the skin. It is at this stage that they have the maximum amount of useful substances. The greens are very juicy and soft, they can be eaten for medicinal purposes, as well as for prevention.

Sunflower seedlings have the most beneficial properties at an early stage, immediately after germination.

Chemical composition of sunflower seedlings

The beneficial effects of sunflower seedlings are explained by their rich chemical composition. Sprouted grain contains a large amount of enzymes, minerals and other components, for example:

unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, stearic, palmitic);
cellulose;
vitamins E, C, group B;
iron;
magnesium;
lithium;
chromium;
potassium;
selenium.

Important! Selenium is one of the powerful natural antioxidants that blocks free radicals (chemically active substances that destroy cells and contribute to the aging of the body). Sunflower sprouts, along with eggs and fish, are the most affordable product that contains this valuable microelement.

What are the benefits of sunflower sprouts?

The benefits of sprouted sunflower seeds for food are due to the fact that the sprouts contain a large number of enzymes and other biologically active substances. Over time, their concentration decreases, since the entire reserve is actively spent on the plant’s own needs (formation of leaves, shoots, acceleration of growth). Therefore, it is the sprouts of sunflower and other crops that are considered the most useful.

They improve metabolic processes and have a complex effect on the body:

reduce the level of “bad” cholesterol (abbreviated LDL, LDL or LDL);
improve digestive processes (increased motility of the gastrointestinal tract, cleansing of half-life products, toxins, ensuring acid-base balance);
have a rejuvenating effect on the skin and internal organs due to the high content of antioxidants that block free radicals;
improve the appearance of hair and nails;
strengthen bones and teeth;
help maintain immunity;
restore vision;
normalize hematopoietic processes, help prevent the development of anemia;
increase performance and concentration.

The benefits of sunflower sprouts are explained by their rich chemical composition.

It is important to understand that sprouts are mainly used as a prophylactic. For example, it is impossible to treat cancer with sprouted sunflower seeds or other serious diseases. In this case, it is necessary to strictly follow the doctor’s requirements. And sprouts can be used as an additional remedy (after consulting a specialist).

Harm of sunflower sprouts

With the systematic use of sprouted seeds, extraneous symptoms may be observed:

bloating;
heaviness;
increased gas formation (flatulence).

In such situations, you must immediately stop taking sunflower sprouts and consult a gastroenterologist.

Contraindications to the use of sunflower sprouts

Sprouted seeds can be recommended to almost all people - adults and children over 12 years old, men and women. But there are some health and age restrictions:

the seeds contain quite a lot of gluten, which is contraindicated for people suffering from certain diseases (for example, celiac disease);
Children under 12 years of age are not recommended to consume sprouts. If this is necessary, you should first consult a doctor;
a general serious condition (for example, after a heart attack, stroke, surgery) requires careful selection of the diet, so you should not arbitrarily include different foods in it;
The seeds are also not recommended for use by people suffering from chronic digestive disorders.

Medicinal properties of sunflower sprouts

The medicinal properties of sprouts are explained by the presence in them of biologically active substances and antioxidants, as well as fiber, which cleanses the body of toxins and wastes - harmful substances, semi-digested food products and other components unnecessary for the body.

Microgreens have several medicinal effects:

immunomodulatory;
tonic;
rejuvenating;
cleaning.

Thanks to the destruction of free radicals and other harmful substances, metabolic processes are normalized. Therefore, the metabolic balance is restored, which contributes to the natural cleansing of the body and the “leveling” of basic physiological indicators (including the level of cholesterol in the blood).

How to germinate sunflower sprouts

It is almost impossible to purchase sprouted sunflower seeds, since on an industrial scale they are used for frying, obtaining sunflower oil, and also in confectionery production (halva, kozinaki). Therefore, you can obtain valuable raw materials by independently germinating sunflowers into microgreens.

The first shoots appear 7-10 days after soaking

This can be done quite simply at home. The instructions are as follows:

Purchased raw seeds are thoroughly washed under running water. It is necessary to ensure that the draining liquid is clean.
Transfer them to a plastic container or glass jar.There is no need to fill it to the top, because the seedlings increase significantly in volume.
Pour in pre-settled water and drain completely after 2 hours.
There is no need to fill it with water any further - just spray it twice a day. Close the container with a lid, in which you first make several holes.
When sprouts up to 3-4 cm long appear (approximately in a week), eat them as quickly as possible. Maximum shelf life is 1 week.

Attention! The container with seeds should be kept at room temperature (moderate heat, no higher than 20 degrees) and away from sunlight.

Rules for using sprouted sunflower seeds

Sprouts can be consumed in their pure form, but it is better to add them to the following dishes:

various soups, including cold ones;
sauces;
salads and cold appetizers;
Dessert;
breakfast cereals.

It is not recommended to boil, fry, or bake seeds.

It is better to put them at the very end of cooking, without additional heating. Otherwise, the beneficial properties are partially lost, for example, vitamin C, which is a natural antioxidant, is destroyed.

Important! You should not combine sprouts with dairy products and carbonated drinks - this increases flatulence and destroys the intestinal microflora (good bacteria).

The use of sunflower sprouts in folk medicine

The beneficial properties of sprouts are used in alternative medicine. Microgreens are recommended to be consumed daily in small doses. This will help prevent the development of vitamin deficiency and cardiovascular diseases.

Sunflower sprouts are consumed 2-3 times a day (in total no more than 80-100 g, i.e. no more than 4-5 tbsp.).One of the simplest and most delicious options is to put sprouts in a salad. The components can be anything, for example, a “summer” recipe:

2 small young zucchini;
3-4 radishes;
80 g seed sprouts;
a little parsley and cilantro;
100 g leeks;
a spoon of sunflower oil;
iodized or sea salt.

Vitamin salad must be seasoned with any vegetable oil

Attention! Treatment with sunflower sprouts has not been proven by official medicine, so the product is used only as a food additive.

Conclusion

Sunflower sprouts are easy to obtain at home. They can be used regularly, in courses (for example, 1-2 months) or periodically added to food as new shoots appear. This is one of the most accessible ways to replenish the lack of unsaturated fatty acids, selenium and other beneficial components in the body.

Reviews of sunflower microgreens

Julia, 36 years old, Krasnodar

Sunflower sprouts can be obtained as follows: place the seeds in a jar, moisten thoroughly, and after 5-7 days collect the greens. They can be added to salads or used in their pure form. After a month's course, the skin becomes shiny and silky. Sunflower sprouts are especially useful after winter - I always take such courses in March.

Marina, 49 years old, Nizhny Novgorod

You can’t buy sunflower sprouts anywhere; you can hardly find even raw seeds. That’s why I collect my seeds at the dacha, where sunflowers grow like mushrooms after rain. Then I germinate them all winter - maybe a kilogram at a time for a week. Personally, I’m not particularly sick with anything, but I noticed that after 2-3 months of the course I became more alert and looked better. In general, it’s like a biological supplement – it definitely won’t hurt.

Andrey, 45 years old, Moscow

Sunflower sprouts are also called microgreens - these are small sprouts no more than 3 cm, with small germ leaves. I heard that they treat cancer, but this is unlikely. In fact, sprouts are consumed mainly for preventive purposes. Therefore, in terms of a general tonic, it can be recommended to almost everyone.