Chia Power

Sprouting

Awhile back, I received this email:

From: M.G.
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 4:42 PM
To: Margaret Conover
Subject: sprouts

Hi Doc.

There is a lot of chatter about sprouting Chia.  Personally I love the sprouts when we are playing with the kids showing them how things grow.  I think I've read from you as well as others that many of the nutritional properties of the seed are lost due to the energy that is required for the seed itself to sprout.  On the other hand I believe that there is a higher enzyme activity level due to the "greener" nature of the living seed.

Can you please let me know if these companies that are writing about the incremental benefits - nutritionally - on sprouted seeds like Chia and Flax are real?

Many thanks for any assistance you can provide.

M

On Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 5:20 PM, Margaret Conover wrote:

Nutrition Diva has something to say on this matter. Visit her website for a discussion of value of sprouting in general: http://nutritiondiva.quickanddirtytips.com/sprouted-grains.aspx 

 

Basically, this article provides evidence that sprouting does not improve the nutritional value of most seeds in any significant way.

The dietary fiber is part of the seed coat. Because the chia seed coat becomes mucilaginous and sticky, it is left behind, stuck to the sprouting medium, when the seedling spouts. The omega-3s, I believe, are metabolized as fuel for the growth of the seedling. This would leave you with neither fiber nor omega-3s.

I hope this helps!

Margaret

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See also this article on the ORAC value of soaked and germinated chia seeds.

But if you REALLY want to sprout them, here are some techniques.

Pet Food?

Can your pets eat chia seed? We know that there's been lots of experiments on using chia seed as chicken feed.

I've found  a few more examples of chia seeds as animal food:

• Harrison's Premium Certified Organic Bird Foods.
• Wellytales Dog/Puppy Products
• One experiment on rats concluded that chia seed and oil was beneficial to them.
• Tortoises love sprouts of all kinds and Carolina Pet Supply carries several sprouting mixes containing chia seed.

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Note: the Chia Cat Grass Planter does not contain any chia seeds!
 

SPROUTPEOPLE

Gil and Lori (aka Sproutpeople) have been growing organic sprouts in San Francisco for the last 15 years. They are the experts. They'll sell you the seeds and the equipment and the know-how to grow your own broccoli, sunflower, alfalfa sprouts and MORE! If you are into sprouts, this should be your number one stop.

Yes, they do know how to sprout chia seeds and have published their method here.  They discuss the mucilaginous quality of chia seeds and recommend that they be grown on a medium like a baby blanket (?) to be used as microgreens.

THEY SAY: Chia is a profoundly slippery seed when wet, Chia pets are famous (chia is the "fur").  Chia is easy to grow as a Micro-Green.

Seed to Green in 5 - 6 Days
Yield = 1:1
Seed Shelf Life at 70° = 4 - 5 years
Greens Shelf Life = 1 week maximum

Nutritional info:
Vitamins A, B, C and E
Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Niacin, Phosphorus, Potassium
All Essential Amino Acids
Antioxidants
Protein: 20-25%

Sproutpeople do not sell chia seeds, and as best I can tell, they are not too enthusiastic about chia microgreens. I agree. I think chia sprouts are hairy and bitter.

But what do you think? Have you tried them? BeStrixed has blogged about her chia sprout experience here.

Studying Sprouts

At the conference, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Beverly Brown who has organized a wonderful interdisciplinary program for students at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Students majoring in biology, mathematics, chemistry and anthropology all participate in growing and studying growing sprouts from various seeds, including beans, wheat and corn.
The project website illustrates the traditional method of growing sprouts in a jar covered with cheesecloth. However, Dr. Brown tells me that they have switched to using the paper towel in a plastic bag method that is so successful with chia seeds.

Next fall, students in this program will have the opportunity to work with chia seeds.  Dr. Brown and I will be talking about this over the summer.