BEAN SPROUTS
Typical serving size:
1 cup (104 g)HOW THEY HARM
WHAT THEY HEAL
CancerSPROUT FACT
A sprout is a vegetable seed that just begins growing
Sprouts grow from the seeds of vegetables, grains, and various beans
Wiry, yet delicate tasting, bean sprouts weigh in at a scant 31 calories per cup and pack a lot of nutrition in a small package
Mung bean sprouts, for example, have 23% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C along with other nutrients, such as iron, protein, fiber, and calcium
Health Benefit Can help prevent cancer
Bean sprouts are are a rich source of sulforaphane, one of the most potent anticancer compounds isolated from a natural source
Sprouts can contain 50 times more sulforaphane than mature beans
Health Risks
Harmful bacteriaBecause sprouts have been associated with outbreaks of salmonella and E
coli infection, people at high risk from exposure to these bacteria, such as children, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems, should avoid eating sprouts
It’s okay to eat most sprouts raw, as long as they’re free of bacterial contamination
An important exception: sprouted soybeans, which contain a potentially harmful toxin that is destroyed by cooking
QUICK TIP:
Bacteria avoidance If you are a healthy adult, you can minimize your risk of consuming harmful bacteria by buying crisp sprouts with the buds attachedYou can also reduce risk of illness by cooking sprouts before eating them
Lupus flare-ups
People with lupus should avoid alfalfa sprouts; alfalfa in any form can prompt a flare-up of symptoms