Ok, here's an explanation.
The seed contains starch etc as high energy fuel. along with some enzymes
and metabolic machinery to commence a new plant.
It is all kept in suspended animation by enzyme inhibitors until
germination. These enzyme inhibitors are toxins (protease inhibitors). Once
germination (sprouting) occurs, the enzyme inhibitors disappear so the plant
can grow as quickly as possible. Therefore sprouts contain less toxins than
do seeds. Also, once the metabolic machinery starts working, then vitamin
production etc can commence.
Ben Balzer

----- Original Message -----
From: Alan Lundin <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, 7 October 1999 12:04 PM
Subject: Re: [P-F] Perfect Package? Sprouting question


> * KATHRYN P ROSENTHAL ([log in to unmask]) [991006 07:45]:
> * Subject: Re:      Re: [P-F] Perfect Package? Sprouting question:
> > >I've been meaning to ask the group about sprouting of seeds.  Sprouts
> > >(alfalfa, broccoli, radish, lentil, etc.) used to be a big part of my
diet
> >
> >
> > According to Dr. Andrew Weil in "Natural Health, Natural Medicine," many
> > sprouts contain natural toxins .  He says to never eat alfalfa sprouts,
> > lentil sprouts, or mung bean sprouts raw.  Alfalfa sprouts contain the
> > natural toxin, canavanine, which harms the immune system and should
never be
> > eaten.
>
> I read an article in the magazine "Natural Health" about
> 6 months ago where the author was curious about Dr. Weil's
> statement.  All Dr. Weil actually knew was that a researcher
> had found toxins in the sprouts.
>
> The article author went to the researcher (I don't remember
> his name) who said that while alfalfa sprouts did indeed
> have toxins, they where no greater than any other plant
> food, and was baffled why Dr. Weil reacted the way he did.
>
> --alan