Soaking & Sprouting your Lentils!!

Lentils for liver health!! Your body NEEDS protein for optimal liver health!

Lentils are one of the most nutritious foods that cleanse the liver. All types of lentils are great sources of proteins and a variety of essential minerals. Liver-wise the nutrients in Lentils help stimulate liver function.

Why lentils are a great choice to support your liver!

High source of protein: Protein induces satiety (the feeling of fullness), and also keeps blood insulin levels from spiking. The liver acts as the body's glucose (or fuel) reservoir, and helps to keep your circulating blood sugar levels and other body fuels steady and constant. The liver both stores and manufactures glucose depending upon the body's need. So helping support how much your blood sugar is dropping and spiking is very important! Remember- we are trying to create less stress for your liver right???

Great source of fiber! The colon is the main exit route for moving toxins and excess cholesterol out of your body, and fiber is what binds these wastes for healthy elimination, making it the ultimate cleanser. This intestinal detox pathway must be functioning properly in order to clear out your whole body’s toxins effectively.

The proteins in lentils are commonly easy to digest alone, however soaking and sprouting lentils can help increase the availability to said nutrients! Plus- lentils are easy to find, and very wallet friendly food.

Sprouting seeds, nuts, and legumes is one of my favorite things to “grow” at home during the winter, it is fun, cheap and packed with nutrients! Truthfully, your money goes a long ways to sprout at home vs. buying sprouts at the store!

Why should you soak and sprout your lentils?

Firstly, they taste AMAZING, when you do so- it adds a nice, earthly favor that is super tasty!

When you soak and sprout lentils or really any other legume, it helps make them easier to digest by breaking down most anti-nutrients, and increasing the availability of nutrient content, especially- Vitamins B and C. Like many legumes, lentils have sugars that create intestinal gas. Sprouting helps break down some of those sugars.

You can often buy pre-sprouted legumes, however doing it yourself- will save you money!! Fun part is if you sprout too much, you can actually even just dehydrate them for later use!

Deets://

HOW TO SPROUT LENTILS: Two WAYS!!

1. Put the dry lentils in a jar. Add water and let sit overnight. Remember that the lentils will eventually almost triple in size so be sure your container is big enough. I used about 2/3 cup dry lentils in a 1 quart mason jar and added about 2 cups water, and there was plenty of room.
2. Drain the water out of the jar, replace the cloth and let the jar sit on the counter, out of direct sunlight.

NOTE: I often will only sprout for the day- and use up in soups! If that is the case- I will drain water, let sit on the counter, out of direct sunlight- and let sprout for 8-9 hours during the day- usually at this time you will start to see a tiny bit of a sprout come through- this is my favorite for soups!!!

If you are looking for longer sprouts! Read below! This is best for eating as snacks, in bread, crackers, etc.

Every 12 hours, add water to the jar, give it a swirl and then drain it out again.
3. I started seeing little tails in 24-36 hours and decided they were long enough after about 2 days. Depending on the amount of lentils you’re sprouting, this process could take up to 4 days.
4. When they’re done, spread them on a paper towel to let them dry out a little bit, then store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Dehydrate Deets:

Arrange evenly on a fruit lather tray- dehydrate at 135 degrees until dry completely through- cook as you would dry lentils, until soft.

Enjoy Foodies!!!

Amanda