What are the Risks of Eating Raw Sprouts?

In recent news, the media has deemed it unsafe to consume raw or slightly cooked sprouts due to a fairly recent salmonella or E. coli outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory warning consumers of the possible risks of eating raw sprouts. In my opinion, these warnings were created based on misunderstanding and fear rather than logic and reality. Let me explain…

The FDA discovered that the seeds and beans themselves are usually what cause the salmonella or E. coli breakouts in the first place – not the sprouts.  If bacteria is already present on the seed or bean, once they start sprouting the bacteria increases to dangerous levels — even under sanitary conditions. This means that the seeds and beans need to have safer handling, storage and sprouting practices. Since the late 90′s, the FDA has established strict packaging standards of seeds and beans used for sprouting, which I feel is safe and can be trusted. Many sprout growers have taken things to the next step by bleaching their seeds and beans to sanitize them and prevent bacteria growth. This is what I like to call “overkill”. Adding chlorine to your sprouts defeats the whole purpose of eating sprouts, which is to provide nutrients in your body. I recommend buying organic sprouts whenever possible to avoid this chlorine bleaching process so you can enjoy the full amount of nutrients that sprouts were intended to have.

Sprouts are like any other food where bacteria can form if handled improperly. For us as consumers, we need to make sure that we keep our sprouts refrigerated and eaten before they get old. If sprouts are old and rotting, bacteria is growing on them like crazy and you just shouldn’t eat it. This is the same concept as with any other food.

Why you should eat Sprouts

I have been introduced to sprouts at a very young age, and I am quite thankful for that. It turns out, sprouts are a very small version of the entire plant. Each little sprout can have as much – or more – of certain micronutrients as an entire mature plant. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that broccoli sprouts contain anywhere from 30 to 50 times the concentration of protective chemicals found in mature broccoli plants – including many cancer fighting compounds.

Broccoli sprouts are an important nutritional tool for anyone battling cancer, and when combined with other superfoods like chlorella, they can actually reverse cancer and result in the elimination of cancer tumors. - Mike Adams, NaturalNews.com

It’s quite amazing to realize how much nutrition is coming into the body when you eat a single sprout. Of course, you usually won’t eat just one sprout!

How to Use Sprouts with your Meals

Now that you know you should be eating sprouts (and it’s perfectly safe!), how do you incorporate it in your meals? It really depends on you! I love having sprout and tomato sandwiches! I will buy either Organic Alfalfa or Broccoli sprouts and put them in my tomato sandwich. It’s simple, easy, healthy, and extremely delicious! I also enjoy eating Mung bean sprouts by adding them to scrambled eggs, stir fry, or specific dishes like Egg Foo Yung.

Sprouts are delicious. OK, so they might be an acquired taste! I don’t know considering I have been eating sprout sandwiches since I was at least five, and I love them! I made a deli sandwich for my husband and I added Alfalfa sprouts instead of lettuce – he loved it! So, I think you just need to try it out in a couple of different ways. Find out how you enjoy eating sprouts, and I think you will realize that you have been missing out on such a delicious and nutrient dense treat!

How to Make Sprouts

Instead of buying sprouts at the store, you can just buy a sprouting kit and just make your own sprouts at home. It’s ridiculously cheap and easy to grow your own sprouts!

I found this great instructional video that I thought would help you learn more about how you can grow your own sprouts!

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Nutrition and Health Benefits

The American Heart Association recommends at least 2 servings of fish per week. Now, I know why… This fish is packed with a lot of healthy and beneficial nutrients! Salmon is not only low in calories, but it is also a great source of  important and healthy Omega-3 fatty acids (helps with the immune system,circulatory systems, and helps prevent unwanted inflammation) , B6,  B12, Niacin (processes fats in the body and lowers cholesterol), tryptophan (an amino acid which helps reduce headaches and even help stop cravings for unecessary amounts of carbohydrates and sweets),  Selenium, High in Vitamin D (an entire day’s worth!), Magnesium, and of course…protein!

Wild or Farmed Salmon?

Many don’t even bother to ask this question or understand the difference between the two, so I have to bring this up! Defintely go for the Wild Salmon. Farmed Salmon has been tested with much higher (up to 10 times the amount compared to Wild Salmon) amounts of toxins, including dioxin, toxaphen, dieldrin, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s). These toxins are found to increase the risk of all cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and can even surpress your immune system – just to name a few things. To keep it short and simple; you don’t want these toxins in your body, and if it is Farmed Salmon, the dangers outweigh the benefits and it is best to avoid them.

Food Preparation

You can buy Salmon in many different ways; fresh, frozen, canned, and raw (sushi). This is great because that means there are many ways to prepare this wonderful and healthy fish without ever getting bored!

Fresh Salmon is great as long as you are planning on preparing your meal same day, or at least in the next short while (usually there will be a “best before” date on the package). Frozen Salmon is convenient if you want to buy Salmon in bulk, without having to deal with your fish going bad. Both Fresh and Frozen salmon can be baked, steamed, and the Fresh can also be grilled.  Canned is not necessarily my first choice, but if you want it, I personally recommend choosing the canned Salmon with the bones and skin included, which gives you a higher amount of Calcium in it- perfect for Salmon sandwiches which can replace your Tuna sandwiches. Salmon Sushi rolls is another great way to enjoy Salmon! When I first tried raw Salmon, I was nervous that it might taste “fishy”, but if you go to a reputable Sushi Restraunt, it shouldn’t taste “fishy” at all, and you will enjoy it if you already enjoy sushi.

Serving: 4 oz

Calories: 261 (plain, nothing added)

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