Sprouts can be looked upon as one of the most prized gifts from nature for the sustenance of our health and wellbeing. Sprouted seeds have more than three times the nutrients of unsprouted seeds and come to us with a whole plethora of benefits. While it is always best to sprout our own seeds (grains, beans, legumes, nuts) at home, this is not always possible for various reasons. To help provide a convenient sprouted product that can be used anytime, the optimally health oriented company ShaSha Co. developed the Bio-Bud.
What Are Bio-Buds?
Bio-Bud products are made with sprouted grains, legumes and pods that are dehydrated at the peak of their enzyme levels and nutrient value, and packaged with no additives or preservatives. They are raw and from organic sources.
Like all sprouts, they are lavishly rich not just in nutrients, but bio-available nutrients. They include the vital minerals that our bodies need to build strong tissues and bones, like iron, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. They are also rich in the B vitamins, which support our nervous system health. They are a living food source and contain a rich concentration of enzymes to optimize the digestion process. They are full of life energy (Chi) and other beneficial components, like antioxidants and phytonutrients.
To understand the full depth of the amazing health and nutrition benefits of sprouts in general, I invite you to read my essay called Understanding Sprouts: Supreme Nutrition & Life Energy. In it, I describe the nutrition and health benefits of sprouts in more detail, as well as any safety measures, how to best use them and more.
The bio-buds all contain outstanding nutrition profiles where the macronutrients are concerned as well. It is optimal for our health, to eat a diet rich in healthy, complex carbohydrates like vegetables, whole grains, beans and legumes. Typically at least 60 - 80% of our calories should come from these sources, with an emphasis on vegetables making up the most of that total. Optimal dietary practices also include a protein component of about 10%, and fat component of about 10 - 20% of our total calories, for most adults. The bio-buds perfectly reflect the necessary carbohydrate component, surpass the protein needs, and provide even less fat than they could. All of this supports our bodies in the healthiest ways possible, ensuring optimal fuel being delivered to run our body and materials to build our body.
Another outstanding aspect of the bio-buds are their potassium amounts. In our world today, it is estimated from reported sources that about 1/3rd of people are suffering from hypertension, or high blood pressure. One of the main causes of this is the high amounts of processed food in people’s diets with extreme amounts of sodium, while being deficient in potassium. When it comes to bio-buds the opposite holds true. They have negligible amounts of sodium and very high amounts of potassium. Consider that the recommended daily intake for potassium is 4700mg, and several of the bio-buds provide 1/5th of that amount from a single serving of them alone.
Thanks to all of these excellent qualities, the bio-buds offer numerous health benefits for us. These include, but are not limited to:
- enhancing digestion and elimination
- enhancing the immune system
- lowering cholesterol
- helping to regulate/balance blood sugar
- building healthy hair, skin and nails
- enhancing the nervous system (helping offset the effects of stress)
- protecting against heart disease
- protecting against cancer
- protecting against diabetes
- providing a healthy, reliable fuel source for balanced energy levels
As mentioned above, bio-buds are produced by ShaSha Co. - a company that I am proud to support due to the type and quality of food products that they create. At a previous time I have written about their sprouted grain bread selection, which comprises what are among the top healthiest breads, if one is to eat bread.
Currently, ShaSha Co. offers 4 different bio-buds, which are brown rice, mung beans, adzuki beans and lentils. Each of the products is raw, certified organic, Kosher, Halal and comes from a peanut-free facility. The characteristics and benefits of each one are described in more detail for you below.
Raw Organic Sprouted Brown Rice
Ingredients: Organic Brown Rice
Nutritional Benefits:
Excellent source of many essential vitamins like Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), and Vitamin E, as well as minerals, like Magnesium, Zinc, Phosphorus, Potassium and Iron.
- Naturally low in fat - only 7% of calories per serving (1/2 cup)
- Great source of protein - 7g - 7% of calories per serving (1/2 cup)
- Great source of healthy, complex carbohydrates - 84% of calories per serving (1/2 cup)
- Good source of fiber - 3g per serving (1/2 cup)
- Free of cholesterol and sodium
Characteristics: Similar to regular brown rice, however it tends to have a fluffier and even more developed flavor. It can be pre-soaked to rehydrate for 30 minutes, and then cooked on simmer for about 15 minutes. Otherwise, cooking without pre-soaking takes about 30 minutes. It is important to cook this product on very low heat (simmering) to minimize any nutrition loss of the nutrient rich sprouts.
Raw Organic Sprouted Adzuki Beans
Ingredients: Organic Adzuki Beans
Nutritional Benefits:
Excellent source of many essential vitamins like Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), and Vitamin C, as well as minerals, like Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, Phosphorus, Potassium and Calcium.
- Naturally low in fat - only 3% of calories per serving (3/4 cup)
- Outstanding source of protein - 23g - 26% of calories per serving (3/4 cup)
- Great source of healthy, complex carbohydrates - 72% of calories per serving (3/4 cup)
- Excellent source of fiber - 17g per serving (3/4 cup)
- Free of cholesterol and naturally low in sodium (15mg per serving)
Characteristics: Similar to regular adzuki beans, perhaps a little more delicate in taste and texture. The beans can be pre-soaked for 30 minutes to reduce cooking time to about 15 minutes, or cooked from dry for about 30 minutes. Be sure to cook them on lowest heat to reduce nutrient loss.
Raw Organic Sprouted Mung Beans
Ingredients: Organic Mung Beans
Nutritional Benefits:
Excellent source of many essential vitamins like Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), and Vitamin C, as well as minerals, like Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, Phosphorus, Potassium and Calcium.
- Naturally low in fat - only 3% of calories per serving (3/4 cup)
- Outstanding source of protein - 25g - 28% of calories per serving (3/4 cup)
- Great source of healthy, complex carbohydrates - 69% of calories per serving (3/4 cup)
- Excellent source of fiber - 15g per serving (3/4 cup)
- Free of cholesterol and naturally low in sodium (15mg per serving)
Characteristics: Similar to regular mung beans, with a little more developed flavor. The beans can be pre-soaked for 30 minutes to reduce cooking time to about 15 minutes, or cooked dry for about 30 minutes. Be sure to cook them on lowest heat to reduce any nutrient loss.
Raw Organic Sprouted Lentils
Ingredients: Organic Lentils
Nutritional Benefits: Excellent source of many essential vitamins like Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin B1 (thiamine), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), and Vitamin C, as well as minerals, like Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, Phosphorus, Potassium and Calcium.
- Naturally low in fat - only 4% of calories per serving (3/4 cup)
- Outstanding source of protein - 26g - 29% of calories per serving (3/4 cup)
- Great source of healthy, complex carbohydrates - 68% of calories per serving (3/4 cup)
- Excellent source of fiber - 18g per serving (3/4 cup)
- Free of cholesterol and naturally low in sodium (15mg)
Characteristics: Similar to regular brown/green lentils, but seem to have a little more enhanced flavor. The lentils can be pre-soaked for 30 minutes to reduce cooking time to about 15 minutes, or cooked dry for about 30 minutes. Be sure to cook them on lowest heat to reduce any nutrient loss. I have also tried soaking the lentils for about 2 hours, which then allowed me to enjoy them without any cooking, in their truly raw, sprout form. It may be possible that the other bio-buds can be consumed in a similar way, and I will definitely be trying that in the near future.
How to Eat Bio-Buds?
Once re-hydrated and/or cooked bio-buds can be easily added to almost any meal. They make great sides, and are best served with vegetables. You can easily turn the beans/legumes into a puréed soup, dip, or hummus-like spread. They can be added to salads, as well as wraps. They can be eaten warm or cold.
You can combine the bio-bud rice with one of the bio-bud beans/legumes in a single meal as well. Because they are both sprouted, digestion should be optimized without any bloating or gas, but be mindful nonetheless of how your digestive system reacts to this high starch/high protein meal combination.
Where to Get Bio-Buds?
At this time, Bio-Buds are only available in Canada. They can be found in select health food and grocery stores throughout Ontario. Check the ShaSha store locator to find a location near you. If you reside in the US, explore your local health food store for similar product options. And of course don’t forget that you can also make your own fresh sprouts of rice, and various beans and legumes at home.
In the end, this product definitely gets my recommendation as an optimally healthy food choice, as everything it contains works to benefit our body and support our health. It is a real, whole food, and living one at that, which can be incorporated easily into our everyday meals.