Alfalfa sprouts are actually safer than you've heard: Sprout myths part three
Alfalfa sprouts are such a nutritious ingredient, so why has it suddenly been said that they cannot be eaten?
When Greenvines shares the benefits of sprouts with consumers at talks, we sometimes encounter people who say: "The media has reported that alfalfa sprouts seem to be toxic and cannot be eaten?!" Alfalfa sprouts are a mainstream health food in European and American countries; walk into Whole Foods, the leading American organic supermarket, and an entire display shelf is packed full of alfalfa sprouts; alfalfa sprouts are also called the "father of foods" by Arabs. So many accolades correspond to some reports full of doubts, which makes us cannot help but ask, are such media reports correct?
At present, no scientific research has confirmed that alfalfa sprouts cause autoimmune diseases
Lin Bixia, a consultant at Greenvines and a PhD from the Department of Horticulture at National Taiwan University, says: "These reports and rumors all originate from an article published in the journal Science in 1982; however, up to now, no scientific research has confirmed that alfalfa sprouts cause autoimmune diseases."
We found the original text of the Science journal study (Note 1), and some subsequent research reports (Note 2).
The study states that long-term and large consumption of alfalfa sprouts will affect patients who already have autoimmune diseases. In the monkey samples observed in the study, the amount of dry alfalfa sprouts consumed per meal (Note 3) accounted for 40% of one meal, and they were fed continuously for an average of more than seven months. Such large and long-term consumption far exceeds the intake of ordinary people. For healthy people, alfalfa sprouts are rich in multiple vitamins, minerals and amino acids, and because of their high alkalinity, high fiber, high enzymes and low fat and other characteristics, they are an indispensable healthy food on the modern dining table.
Choose safely cultivated alfalfa sprouts, and eating them raw is also reassuring
Some news reports also mention that eating alfalfa sprouts raw makes it easy to swallow bacteria. However, the key to whether raw alfalfa sprouts are safe to eat lies in the manufacturer's cultivation and handling procedures, and has nothing to do with alfalfa sprouts themselves. As long as consumers choose safely cultivated alfalfa sprouts, the various safety concerns about eating raw alfalfa sprouts can be reduced, and there is no need to worry about enjoying raw alfalfa sprouts. This is because as long as manufacturers choose safe seed sources and use clean water for cultivation, they can safeguard food safety for consumers; in addition, sprouts that have not been cut and washed do not have wounds, which can also reduce the probability of bacteria breeding in sprouts. Everyone should pay special attention to this when choosing raw alfalfa sprouts.
Eat in moderation, wash clean before eating, and simply enjoy the benefits of alfalfa sprouts
Alfalfa sprouts are also a kind of sprout with quite a lot of nutritional components, containing multiple trace elements, such as various vitamins A, B, C, K, iron and many amino acids. They can remove cholesterol, prevent coronary artery disease and stroke, and are of great help in the treatment of high blood pressure, arthritis and so on. For friends suffering from lupus erythematosus, Greenvines suggests that you do not eat alfalfa sprouts before consulting a doctor or nutritionist, though eating a little will not cause serious harm. Ordinarily, we can pair alfalfa sprouts with other vegetables and fruits to make salads or blend them into juice. Before eating, remember to wash them clean first. With proper consumption, you can enjoy the benefits of alfalfa sprouts for the human body.