Like every raw uncooked food, raw sprouts might be dangerous to eat if they are contaminated with airborne viruses.
Certain conditions in which unhealthy bacteria can grow may pose a danger to the sprouts and to you when eaten.
The warm and humid conditions necessary for the growth of sprouts can cause such bacteria to appear. Salmonella, listeria and E. coli are just a few of these bacterias that can grow on sprouts.
What Are Sprouts?
Sprouts are young plants that come out right after the sprouting process. In order for this process to begin, the seeds must be heated for a very short time.
Then, once the appropriate temperature and humidity are applied, the growth process continues and they are left to grow for an average of 2-5 days.
there are many different types of sprouts that are popularly consumed, Here are some examples:
Bean sprouts
This sprout is one of the most frequently encountered sprouts in the market. They are usually available all year round but are more populous during the winter months.
Sprouted grains
Brown rice-wheat and oat sprouts are examples of sprouted grains. They are grains that are just about the sprout and are usually soaked and then left to mature in humid environments.
Vegetables and leafy sprouts
Broccoli, radish beet and fenugreek sprouts are leafy sprouts, sometimes referred to as ‘baby leaf’ vegetables. You can find these in markets sold separately or mixed into pre-made salads.
It is very important to wash all sprouts before eating them. In this way, you will get rid of possible bacteria that may occur on them. You can also boil sprouts on high heat if you prefer.
Do Sprouts Carry A Risk of illness?
Some sprouts might carry a risk of illness because of the bacteria they can carry.
If you wash the sprouts well before eating them, you cleanse them from any kind of dust, microbes and dirt on the surface. This is the best way to ensure that your food is safe to eat.
Some people put the sprouts in a bowl of salty water and make them wait for at least 1 hour. Salt allows for a deeper clean, removing dirt and killing any microbes.
Do Sprouts Help Control Blood Sugar Levels?
Sprouts can help to keep blood sugar under control. Patients with sudden fluctuations in blood sugar levels experience health benefits after using these herbs for a certain period of time.
Especially recommended for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes, sprouts play an important role in the management of such illnesses.
According to one study, people with type 2 diabetes managed to lower their blood insulin levels by consuming powdered broccoli sprouts for 10 weeks.
In addition, the sprouts triggered an enzyme that regulates the body’s sugar levels to work actively.
In another study, lentil sprouts were given to a group of type 2 diabetes patients for 2 months. In patients who consumed the sprouts, a 10% decrease was observed while the haemoglobin ratio decreased to normal levels.
What is The Current Advice On Eating Sprouts?
If the sprouts that you see in the supermarkets are labelled as edible, you can eat these sprouts safely with little or no preparation.
Generally, it is recommended to cook the sprouts that you buy from supermarkets by boiling or roasting them. A sprout that is cooked thoroughly has no living microorganisms present.
If you don’t have a chance to cook them straight away then you should keep them in the fridge under 5 C degrees and consume them within 3 days.
Do not eat sprouts that have passed their expiry date, bad sprouts can harm your health. That’s why if you see a sprout that has turned brown or black, you should throw it away.
Consuming expired sprouts can seriously harm your health, as bacteria has set in and begun to deteriorate the sprout.
Does Washing Sprouts Make Them Safe to Eat Raw?
Washing sprouts doesn’t make them safe to eat raw because they still have bacteria on them. The best way to get rid of these kinds of bacteria is to boil them at high heat.
Thus the bacteria will die and the sprout will be safe to eat. Generally, producers eliminate bacteria before the sprout reaches the supermarkets but it is still recommended to cook them before eating.
Some people claim that it’s not a requirement to cook them, and a good wash will do. However, discussions on this issue are still ongoing. But no matter what, do not consume the sprouts without cooking them first as it is better to be safe.
What is The Advice For Vulnerable Groups?
People over a certain age are at risk when it comes to eating raw sprouts. While sprouts have a lesser chance of harming young people, uncooked and washed sprouts might affect some elderly people.
Generally, elderly people, those with pre-existing health conditions and pregnant women should all be more careful about what they eat.
Some food poisoning might occur if they consume a bad sprout or an undercooked one.
Raw sprouts might have various microorganisms present on their surface and they will affect your health in many ways. Those with weak or compromised immune systems should be careful when consuming sprouts.
Can I Sprout My Own Seeds At Home?
You can easily sprout your seeds at home but the most important thing that you need to consider is the quality of the seeds.
If you have good quality seeds and fertile soil. You can easily sprout your own seeds at home. The sprouting of quality plants needs some specific environmental conditions.
Darkness is the most important phase of seed sprouting. Seeds need a dark environment while they sprout.
You can cover your tray where the seeds are with cardboard or another tray. This will make the environment sufficiently dark.
Moisture is the other important thing that needs to be considered and tended to regularly. Also, you need to sanitize your growing kits meticulously each time you use them.
