Sprouts, other than alfalfa

Cafe Society
1

I like alfalfa sprouts but I don’t think I should eat them anymore. If you don’t want to read the following long history just skip to the last paragraph for sprout discussion.

Some history: This may sound a little weird and hypochondriacal but I have had a not really diagnosed medical condition for years. I was given a tentative diagnosis of fibromyalgia or early RA several years ago but that rheumatologist didn’t seem to know much about fibro or RA from things he told me so I never went back to him and didn’t really seek out a new rheumie. I have been tested for RA and lupus a couple times but they were always negative. For the past couple years my pain and fatigue have not been as bad as they were so I haven’t gone out of my way for a definitive diagnosis.

I recently had a bout of iritis which is often linked to auto-immune disorders and fibromyalgia. I did some reading about iritis and ran across a mention that alfalfa sprouts have large amounts of something that can actually trigger auto-immune diseases. I had eaten alfalfa sprouts just before my bout of iritis and it was the first time in a long time that I had eaten spouts. So needless to say I don’t want to risk my sight testing out the possibility that eating sprouts was related to the iritis by trying them again and I would rather avoid them.

I do like sprouts on sandwiches and in salads and I’d like to be able to eat other types of sprouts. From reading up on it, it seems that only the alfalfa sprouts should be avoided. I occasionally eat mung bean sprouts but the kind of sprouts I prefer are the small, green, leafy sprouts, like alfalfa. I found some info on growing your own sprouts but not much info on which types of sprouts are easy to grow and fit the type I prefer. I’d also prefer to grow my own in small amounts because those big containers at the store all go bad too fast, and the mixed sprouts also contain alfalfa.

So if you have any experience growing sprouts or eating sprouts recommend some nice sprouts for me to grow. I prefer the skinny, green sprouts but I will try any varieties. As long as they’re not alfalfa.

Thanks

2

I’ve had pretty good experiences with radish sprouts. They’re more mild in flavor than grown radishes, but there is a faint radish-y taste to them on top of the green “spoutiness.” It takes about three days for them to sprout, and then three more days before they’re at just about the right stage for eating.

This site might give you some ideas, too.

3

I like radishes. A lot of info at that site, thanks!

4

Snow pea sprouts are exactly what you’d be looking for, I think. They’re thicker than alfafa sprouts, but still quite thin and green, leafy.

Dunno how you grow them, but they’re a regular in salads and sandwiches that I make.

5

Broccoli sprouts – same size and texture as alfalfa sprouts, but brighter green in color, I think they taste better, and far more antioxidants and cancer-preventing qualities.

6

All of the above, plus try clover sprouts. Sunflower sprouts are my all-time favorites, but they are big, assertive spouts.

7

Garden Cress is also a a sprout.

8

Mung bean sprouts are delicious.