Should We Eat Sprouts?

Reader Question:Should we eat sprouts like mung sprouts and wheatgerm and wheatgrass?

Andrew's Answer: Sprouts are so popular in raw food circles because they're believed to be "superfoods," that are somehow dramatically better than their fully-grown counterparts.

I've yet to see any convincing evidence supporting this stance.

The one major problem I see in many types of sprouts is they're very high in protein. Many sprouts come from legumes, which are noted for their high protein content. It's not surprising that the sprouts of these foods carry much of that protein with them. Sprouted soybeans, for instance, are 35% protein, according to the USDA.

You can read about our protein requirements here.

The other issue I have with sprouted lentils is that, personally, I find they don't digest well at all, possibly due to that high protein content.

I don't eat them with any regularly, and see no reason to include them in my diet. If you can digest them, you actually enjoy their taste, and don't have an issue with the protein content, then I suppose it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to eat them. They're certainly not on my recommended list, though.

Other types of sprouts, such as young lettuce/spinach, are not a problem, but why not let them grow to full size?