Sprouting Broccoli Seeds Grow Your Own Super Sprouts!
Hey all you sprout-lovers! Guess what we've been sprouting ALOT of lately?...that's right, broccoli seeds! I have used these seeds before when growing sprout blends, but I haven't tried growing them alone very much. One reason for this is that they are a little harder to grow than most other sprouting seeds.
They take a little longer to sprout (like onion sprouts) and require optimal conditions and cooler climates. So on a hot summers day your broccoli sprouts might not like the heat so much. Right now, it is the perfect time inside where I live. Day time is about 70-75 with cooler night temps and these little sprout-a-roos love it!
These sprouts are more expensive than other sprout seeds, because of their unique health properties. The cheapest place we've found is about 25 dollars for a pound of seeds. However, when you think about the pounds of sprouts one pound of seeds yields, they are way worth the extra cost.
Because of our recent love affair with this new super sprout, we are eating them by the jar full, they are so delicious. I have seriously not tasted a sprout I enjoy more than this one, and I enjoy many!
They have a taste that is amazing with a nutty, cheesy like flavor. I admit, we are going a little overboard with growing jars and jars of them. We just want to ensure our supply for many days worth of sprout eating. When you have broccoli sprouts in your blood it seems like there's no going back.
I have been using them on everything! Today I made a nori roll with broccoli sprouts, dulse, avocado, sauerkraut and seed cheese...wow!
They are great to add to healthy cooked recipes to provide enzymes, nutrition and add a crunch when sprinkled over a hot meal. In the morning, we add them to juicing recipes to get their concentrated health benefits. Or try them for lunch in a broccoli super sprout salad with mung bean sprouts and other greens.
Health Benefits of Sprouted Broccoli Seeds
The broccoli sprout is a great source of antioxidants, as we discussed on our super sprouts page, stimulating the body’s immune system to deactivate free radicals. For this reason, these sprouts became popular in the 1990's when researchers from Johns Hopkins University isolated a cancer fighting phytochemical in broccoli called glucoraphanin, which makes sulforaphane glucosinolate or SGS.
With further study in 1997, it was revealed that SGS is 20 times higher in three to four day old broccoli sprouts as oppose to broccoli as it matures. After this news was published in the New York Times in the late 90's, the demand for broccoli seeds produced a global shortage.
Currently, the U.S. FDA has not authorized any claims specifically for SGS or broccoli sprouts. (Always, of course, seek the advice of a medical doctor when treating serious illness.)
But it is suggested by current studies that Sulforaphane in broccoli sprouts can be helpful for:
carcinogen detoxification
stomach cancer
inhibiting tumor progression and activity
many other forms of cancer
In addition, studies were conducted by the following institutions:
Tokyo University of Agriculture & Technology - decreases cholesterol levels
University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada - improves high blood pressure
Johns Hopkins University - protects against macular degeneration
Johns Hopkins University - decreases vascular disease in diabetics
Like I suggested, we are not stating that broccoli sprouts are going to cure any disease, but scientific evidence sure points in their favor. I certainly wouldn't exclude this sprout in your "sprout growing adventures."
Remember, broccoli seeds take slightly longer to sprout, unlike fenugreek seeds, but they are worth the wait. You can see our sprouting guide for more info on measurements. Or for more info on jar sprouting, see our how to grow sprouts page.
You can also grow broccoli sprouts using the tray method and grow them directly on soil as opposed to a jar. (See sprouting seeds)
