The Sprouting Book: How to Grow and Use Sprouts to Maximize Your Health and Vitality

by Ann Wigmore

Filled with essential vitamins, proteins, and enzymes that cleanse, rejuvenate, and heal the body, sprouts just might be the perfect food. In The Sprouting Book , nutritionist Ann Wigmore unlocks the secrets to one of nature’s most beneficial foods, arming readers with all they need to know in order to eat, grow, and reap the benefits of sprouts. This comprehensive guide offers:  A trusted and celebrated source from a pioneer in natural health, The Sprouting Book is the perfect guide for dieters, vegetarians, athletes, or anyone who wants to look good and feel better.

Genres: Health, Gardening, Food, Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Nutrition

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1986

About the author

Dr. Ann Wigmore, teacher, healer, Living Foods Lifestyle® founder and Center director and author of numerous books and articles on Living Foods, dedicated her life to educating the world about the transforming qualities of this wonderful lifestyle. She wrote over fifteen books, distributing over one million copies,[citation needed] and lectured in thirty-five countries.The Vegetarian Times Magazine once stated, "Dr. Ann Wigmore is to sprouts what George Washington Carver is to peanuts. Both are food geniuses of a sort. The next time you see sprouts on a salad bar or in a store, thank Dr. Ann."

In 1968, Ann Wigmore co-founded the Hippocrates Health Institute, a health resort in the United States, with Viktoras Kulvinskas. Known as "the mother of living foods", she was an early pioneer in the use of wheatgrass juice and living foods for detoxifying and healing the body, mind, and spirit.

In her autobiography, Why Suffer?: How I Overcame Illness & Pain Naturally, Wigmore recalls observing her grandmother using herbs and natural remedies as a child in Lithuania.

Dr Ann was Founder-Director of the Ann Wigmore Natural Health Institute in Puerto Rico and the Ann Wigmore Foundation in Boston, Massachusetts. She died an untimely death from smoke inhalation in a fire in her Boston center in February, 1994. At the time of her death, she was 84 years young and had more energy than most 20-year-olds!

Today, her methods are still being taught at the Ann Wigmore Natural Health Institute.

Reviews

[K.S.R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ann Wigmore's classic on sprouting seeds caught my attention at Real Food's market last week. I've started sprouting seeds since then, and guess what? We love 'em at our house. Go figure! I've got quite the system down with this stackable, green sprouter from Handy, or something.

When I read that sprouts are third in line for being the most alkaline foods, and that it would be a good thing for me to eat more alkaline foods, I decided to bite the bullet and try it out.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some helpful information but not the best book. Pictures are just sketches. Instructions are focused on trying to sell her own products.

She claims that sprouts turned her grey hair back to its natural brown at 70!! Seems a bit far-fetched. I am sure sprouts are healthy but there’s no need to make up lies. There was a little bit of wood and pesudoscience.

I wouldn’t buy this or recommend it. I got it from the library. There must be better resources out there.

[Clivemichael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dated, heavy on the raw focus.

[Marcus Goncalves · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, good information is provided, but the book is getting very old by now. The basic techniques are covered but nowadays there are many other alternatives. It should be updated, not only the cover.

[Rita Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short book, but down to the point and informative.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still relevant information for today. Clear, concise direction on how to grow your own sprouts.

[Laura-marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unsubstantiated claims about health benefits of sprouting, confusing and brief instructions, outdated cost info... I was expecting something above and beyond what I would find at a random website, something really in-depth. I've been sprouting for a few months now and love it, and I wanted to read this book so I could learn something more, but I learned nothing. In fact, there are no warnings about what not to sprout, and there's a picture of kidney beans sprouts, which I've been told are toxic. Despite the fact that kidney beans sprouts are in a picture, they are not mentioned even once in the text. This is just one example of how annoying this book is. It reads like a long advertisement of her sprouting foundation, and it instructs you more than once to read her other book about wheatgrass. Very glad I got it out from the library instead of buying it!

[Amie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Mom gave me this along with a sprouting kit for my birthday. This book was written in the 80s and a lot of the research that the author quotes is a little dated. Her advice on the actual process of sprouting was great and really useful but the other third of the book where she talks about the benefits of using them was harder to get into because she is a little extreme. She claimed to have eaten nothing but live, whole foods for years and because of it her gray hair went away and back her more youthful brown among other positive side-effects. I would still reccomend it for the great how-to information, but skip the other chapters.

[Trish Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only halfway through and I've already learned so much more about sprouts and their benefits! Written by Ann Wigmore, the founder of the Natural Health Institue and the Ann Wigmore Foundation, she lived what she taught for most of her life. A true revolutionary in the naturals foods arena.

The book is a bit dated, but this is really one of the first books about sprouting. There is more recent information available and, if you want that information, seek those books out and read them. I like this book as a first read on sprouting.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted this book to be a profile of the health benefits of sprouts. And it is. But it was published so long ago and written by someone with little scientific understanding. To the point that I was able to cite several 'facts' about which I am doubtful. Nonetheless, it was a good if quick read. Half the book is on how to grow sprouts and was thus not useful. But the first half was encouraging. I just wish it had been updated as time went on.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it is a bit dated, Ann is definitely a reliable source on the importance of sprouts in our diet and its benefits. It answered some questions I had on sprouting methods for different seeds and grains/beans. It gave more thorough instruction than I had read in a few other books. It was a quick read and a helpful source of information. I have yet to try the recipes, so we'll see!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well written - sadly rare for health books. Easy-to-follow. I really feel like, using the tips in here, I will be able to grow a healthy indoor garden to supplement my raw food diet. She shares how to "do" sprouts simply - using jars or sprout bags - as well as how to use automatic machines. Loved her recommendation for pets and growing sprouts while traveling or camping.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful information about sprouting all kinds of different seeds, legumes, and nuts. I particularly like the chart that gives the information about what each sprout offers in nutrition as well as when to harvest it. This will be a great reference book as I began my sprouting... already did my first harvest of French lentils tonight - they were delicious in my salad!

[kk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't be fooled by the copyright date of this book. It is the best comprehensive read on sprouting. There is very little storytelling in this book. The author basically stays with the facts and process of sprouting making it a quick and easy book to read. There is a great sprouting chart in this book which is helpful guide in sprouting.

[Jeffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I do believe in the healing power of sprouts, the author went a little too far in some of her assertions. Also - there was very little scientific research or citations where there should have been. If you are looking for a quick "how to" guide to sprouting this will suffice but then again you could probably get the same info on the internet.

[Andreas Michaelides · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann Wigmore wrote a short but sweet guide on how to sprout. It's an amazing little book packed with many information on how to sprout, eat and preserve them. Every health conscious person should buy this book and add in his diet sprouts, they are packed with the essentials of life, full of minerals and vitamins.

[Katy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is to far out for me. I will need more time in my life to sit and read this book and actually grow sprouts. The part about growing sprouts for your pet was pretty funny but made me realize this is not for me right now .

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It's short and simple instructions on how to grow your own sprouts. The benefits from sprouting is huge. I've just started my own lentil and alfalfa sprouts and it's so easy! I would definitely reccomend this book!

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say this is one of the best books I've read on eating fresh and green. Why? It tells you how to set up and indoor kitchen garden for absolutely fresh and less expensive veggies. I can't wait to get into this!!

[Alex Ihlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good intro to the idea of sprouting, in reality very few seeds sprout easy and allow you to have a life. Simply soaking whole grains and beans, before cooking, is great though... and this is a good stepping stone to that I suppose.

[Penn · Rating 3 out of 5]

More information to add to my arsenal in pursuit of better health.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The science this book espouses is quite suspect. I wanted to learn how to sprout and use sprouts in our food, but this book wasn't very helpful. I'll keep looking.

[Cori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear cut information on sprouting. I would have liked more creative uses for sprouts, but I did gain something when reading this book.

[Virginia Bryant]

useful- surprised to see references to wheat, which is proven to be a toxic substance.......

[Himanshu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book

Very good book , practical, informative .help to maintain health easily with low cost in less time.
Anyone can apply ideas in daily life

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to make sprouts more often...

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Must Read - 1
Meaningful - 3
Kept Attention - 5
Well-written - 3
Accessible - 3