Sunflower Greens (Ocean Grown)
I bet you can't just eat one!
Sunflower greens are baby sunflower plants that are grown from sunflower seeds.
They're usually grown for a period of 8-12 days and then harvested while still
tender.
Sunflower greens are often confused with sunflower sprouts. Sunflower sprouts
are produced by soaking sunflower seeds for 1-2 days and then allowing them to
germinate / sprout. In order to produce sunflower greens, these sprouts must be
planted in soil or carefully grown hydroponically and allowed to grow for
another 10-12 days or until they reach 2-3 inches in height.
The nutritional value of sunflower spouts and greens are significantly
different than the seed itself. Sprouting increases enzyme levels, it converts
seed fats into essential fatty acids, and changes proteins into amino acids. In
essence, sprouting has been considered to be a "pre-digestive" process.
Basically, the seed has become easier to digest and more nutritious. Growing
greens takes this one step further. Sunflower greens are like tiny green
vegetables. They contain an abundance of chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, and
plant based amino acids. Plus, they taste great!
Sunflower greens are a rich source of chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, and
plant based amino acids (protein building blocks). But that is not the only
benefit of these sunflower greens. The green is the baby vegetable, containing
high concentration of chlorophyll, which could be used as a substitute for
leafy greens.
These greens have all the important nutrients of life such as
enzymes, chlorophyll, vitamins and proteins. It is also reported that most
greens are rich in vitamin D. Compare to the freeze-dried supplements (which
are dead), sunflower greens carry much more vitamins (considering the fact that
they are still alive up to the time you eat them).
Dr. Mike goes one step further in his growing of sprouts and greens. He uses
Ocean Grown solution from day 1 to harvest. This is proven to mineralize
sprouts and greens to the highest level with 90 plus trace elements in perfect
balance. Ocean Grown food crops even have more minerals than organic grown
plants and much more than non-organic ones. Eating low calorie, high
nutritionally dense foods are top strategies to alkalize, reduce
oxidation/inflammation and lengthen life span! Overall, Ocean Grown food is
more nutritious, hardier, has a longer shelf-life and tastes better.
Considering that sunflower seeds are a complete protein and almost 25% protein
by weight, it is no wonder that sunflower sprouts and greens, grown from these
seeds, are nutritional super foods with few rivals. A mere 3.5 ounces of
sprouted seeds contains a whopping 22.78 grams of protein! The same amount of
chicken breast meat contains just slightly more protein at 26.25 grams.
Sunflower sprouts and greens are a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, D, and
E and minerals including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium,
phosphorus and zinc. In addition to these vitamins and minerals, sunflower
sprouts and greens are a rich source of lecithin which helps break down fatty
acids into an easily digestible water soluble form, and chlorophyll which
benefits many functions within the body, including building blood supply,
revitalizing tissue, calming inflammation, activating enzymes, and deodorizing
the body. But if they are this good for you, they must taste bad? Wrong!
Sunflower greens are considered a delicacy among gourmets and are known for a
crisp nutty flavor. You can even eat the roots of sunflower greens.
Serving and Storage Ideas
Sunflower greens can be added onto a salad or soup, put into a low heat stir
fry, topped onto a sandwich, juiced, blended into a green smoothie or simply
eaten by themselves. Kids love the taste in smoothies and in sandwiches.
Sunflower greens will keep for 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator. Make sure sprouts
and greens are dry before storing in sealed containers or bags. Remember to
remove hulls and rinsing is not necessary. They are ready to eat right from the
bag.
You may purchase sunflower greens and many other super foods at WFFC. Enjoy!!
_______________________________________________________________________________
7315 Woodbine Ave., Markham, Ontario L3R 3V7 Tel: (905) 477-6578 / (416) 318-5939 Fax: (905) 477-6769
Email:drmike@wellnessfirst.ca
www.wellnessfirst.ca