Bean sprouts are a good food source for vegetarians and carnivores alike. Because a sprouting or germinating plant needs certain nutrients for growth, sprouts are rich in proteins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Mung bean sprouts are some of the most commonly consumed bean sprouts, but many varieties are available and all offer potential human health benefits. Sprout forward with this mighty foodstuff.
Vitamin C
According to the George Mateljan Foundation website, sprouts have a high vitamin C content as a result of their sprouting action. As a seed sprout begins to grow and travel through the soil to reach the open air, the sprout turns sugar into vitamin C. This happens so that the vitamin C may work as an antioxidant when the sprout reaches the air. Because of this aspect of a plant's life cycle, there is significantly more vitamin C in a gram of sprouts than in a gram of mature bean plants. A cup of mung bean sprouts contains 14.1 mg of vitamin C, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database.
Low in Fat
A 124 g cup of mung bean sprouts contains only 0.11 g of fat; bean sprouts are very nearly fat-free. Sprouts are therefore a good food source if you're on a low-fat diet or tying to lose weight. A 2006 study reported in the journal "Diabetologia" found that a low-fat diet was beneficial for sustained weight loss in a group of Finnish adults. This study, led by Jaana Lindstrom, also stated that a low-fat diet reduced the risk of developing or worsening type 2 diabetes.
Potassium
A cup of mung bean sprouts contains 125 mg of potassium, according to the USDA. Potassium is essential for the healthy functioning of your organs, tissues and cells. As an electrolyte, potassium helps energy transfer and muscle function. It is also a vital mineral for heart health. Many potassium-rich foods are in the categories of meat and fish, so bean sprouts are a good potassium source if you do not eat meat. Unlike some potassium-rich foods, bean sprouts may have a low sodium content. A low sodium content is desirable if you have certain health conditions that necessitate sodium restrictions -- for instance, high blood pressure or heart failure. In unsalted bean sprouts, the sodium content is 12 mg per cup.
References
- The George Mateljan Foundation: Are Sprouts Good for Me?
- USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Potassium
- "Diabetologia"; High-Fibre, Low-Fat Diet Predicts Long-Term Weight Loss and Decreased Type 2 Diabetes Risk; J. Lindstrom, et al.; May 2006
- MayoClinic: Low-Sodium Diet
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