Sprouts as source of valuable nutritients

Abstract

In the paper, the changes are presented that occur in seeds whilst they sprout, as is the connection between the sprouting seeds and the chemical composition thereof. The sprouts have been proved to be a rich source of basic food components such as amino acids, vitamins, minerals, unsaturated fatty acids, and dietary fibre. Moreover, the sprouts contain those compounds, which are absent, or occur in small amounts in other food products. First of all, they are compounds showing antioxidant activity. Furthermore, some examples are given to demonstrate the impact of technological parameters and composition of moisturizing fluid on the sprouting process and on the chemical composition of sprouts. The production of sprouts is simple and makes it possible to produce sprouts containing abounding amounts of a required component or components. The microbiological quality of sprouts can constitute a problem both during the production process and when selling sprouts. Hence, the sprouts should be deemed as a raw material for processing, such as drying, freezing, and preserving in hermetically sealed cans, or as a source of natural components that are essential for diet.