Green Barley and Plant Sprouts: Cleansing and New Energy During Winter
The power with which a sprouting seed breaks through even stones can serve you too. Freshly sprouted plants contain a whole range of valuable nutrients that will help you feel good again.
Green Barley Provides Energy and Vitality
Green barley is rightfully considered a superfood. However, it's not about green barley grains, but about young leaves of this grass, which are harvested when they reach a maximum height of 25 cm. To be even more precise, what you find in stores under the name green barley is actually dried juice powder from these leaves.
The nutritional value of green barley is truly remarkable. You'll find such a rich list of vitamins and minerals perhaps only in the package insert of multivitamin supplements. And that's not all. The list continues with numerous essential amino acids and high-quality proteins. Green barley acts as an antioxidant. It also helps remove heavy metals and chemical substances from the body, making it a popular remedy for body cleansing.
Green barley drink is easy for anyone to prepare. Simply mix one to two teaspoons of the green powder in a glass of water, juice, or tea. You can treat yourself to this vitamin specialty twice daily, preferably before meals. The liquid used for preparation doesn't have to be cold, but it must not be warmer than 40°C to avoid destroying valuable enzymes.
Grow the Freshest Vegetables in the Middle of Winter: Try Plant Sprouts
Home sprouting isn't rocket science. It might seem complicated at first glance, but there's really nothing to fear. Seeds don't have to sprout only in your garden bed - at home it's even easier. Mung beans or lentils sprout very reliably. But other types of seeds are also worth trying, such as alfalfa, cress, rocket, sunflower, or fenugreek.
Sprouts are full of vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, enzymes, and beneficial fiber. You can add them to any meal - they're crunchy and tasty. Especially in winter, when your garden doesn't provide fresh vegetables, sprouts are an ideal substitute. Although they can be heat-treated, eat them primarily raw so you don't miss out on the healthiest benefits they offer.
At Pěstík you'll also find a sprouting tray that makes sprouting almost effortless. The tray has three tiers, allowing you to sprout different types of seeds simultaneously. The package also includes a bottom water collection tray and a top lid. When watering the seeds, you don't need to disassemble the tray at all. Simply lift the lid and pour water into the top tier. Thanks to the ventilation holes, the water gradually flows through to the two remaining tiers, providing the sprouting seeds with enough moisture and freshness. Excess water collects in the collection tray, which needs to be emptied regularly. You can sprout in all three tiers at once, or use just one if you prefer.
The sprouting process itself is simple. First, soak the seeds overnight in water. By morning they'll be nicely swollen and you can get started. Rinse them with clean water and spread them evenly on the bottom of one of the sprouting tray tiers. Don't forget to water at least twice daily and place them at room temperature.
Sprouted legume and grain seeds are usually consumed whole when the sprout length reaches about half a centimeter or more, which takes a matter of days. Species like cress or arugula, which develop a slimy coating during sprouting, should be allowed to grow a bit more - then trim the shoots with scissors for eating and don't use the actual seeds. During sprouting, taste test and harvest the sprouts when they taste best to you. Store the finished sprouts in the refrigerator, where the low temperature will stop the sprouting process.