A little about Science & Bean Sprouts & me

(by Eddie Adelstein, founder of The Bean Sprout Chronicles) 

While I was studying poisonous plants, in hopes of discovering new anti-cancer agents, I became aware that many plants contain compounds which act specifically on the microtubular system. Microtubules are small microscopic structures, important for cell division and for moving nutrients within the cell's cytoplasm. In Alzheimer's patient's neurons (brain cells) become stuffed with microtubules. In the image above you see the brain cells of a patient with Alzheimer’s (right). This patient’s brain tissue shows large dark spots, where the healthy patient has none. A special silver stain reveals the dead microtubules in the Alzheimer’s patient’s brain, indicating that these cells are sickly. There is no treatment to stop this process and most treatments for the disease are not effective. 

Mung bean sprouts contain a vast assortment of biologically active substances, the major component being isoflavinoids, which are a type of polyphenol. Since it is widely known that these substances act on microtubules, it seemed that the consumption of mung bean sprouts might have a beneficial result. I developed a personal theory - that the consumption of mung bean sprouts might remove the accumulation of microtubules and microfilaments in our brain cells. 

It appears that we are having an epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease, and many believe our food may be playing a role. I began to research the correlation of diet and Alzheimer’s disease. It turns out that in Asiatic countries, like Japan and China, the incidence of Alzheimer's disease is very low. Mung bean sprouts have been a dietary staple for these populations for thousands of years. Of course, this could simply be the result of a genetic predisposition. However, literature around bean sprouts studies show that they have anti-inflammatory, anti-neoplastic (causing cancer cells to die) properties and contribute to clarity of thought. Mung bean sprouts are harvested while they are alive and growing, in theory, many of their active substances could work to breakdown dead mictrotubles.

One of the first friends willing to test out my bean sprout theory is a judge, he had complained that his short term memory was decreasing and that he was having trouble remembering names. With my advice he started consuming mung bean juice mixed with Gatorade. After 30 days he reported to me the following:  The amount of early morning flatulence had increased. He now had “perfect poopers.” He also noted that his short term memory was restored and when dealing with difficult cases, he was able to organize his thoughts the best that he could remember, he felt sharper.  He also measures himself using kinesiology (balance) parameters and found that he was experiencing the best balance than he could remember having.

Rather than just eating the mung bean sprouts, which certainly is en effective way of getting the isoflavinoids, I chose to juice them, freezing some of it for later use. Mung bean sprouts do not keep well in the refrigerator and become slimy. There are no benefits of just eating un-sprouted mung beans - it’s the sprouts that have all the good chemicals.

In 2006, I started consuming ~500 ml of bean sprout juice in a week. Within 30 days I noted that my concerns with my life and job had decreased. I had, to some degree, entered a period of "inner peace" and I felt smarter. My face was pinker, my nails grew faster and I had significant improvement in my general outlook on life. My hair, diminishing at the age of 80, was becoming thicker. I had stopped playing guitar because of arthritis in my left hand - and I've taken it up again. My short term memory is better now, at 80, than at 65. This would be confirmed by my wife. 

Friends and acquaintances who are consuming mung bean sprouts, usually by way of juicing, have sent many reports of decreased arthritic pain, improvements in bowel functioning and better clarity of thought. I have received one report, from a fellow physician, who eats three handfuls of sprouts daily, that his restless leg syndrome has ceased. 

To see my original 2006 op-ed piece on the benefits of isoflavonoids, click here. 

We hope you experience similar positive results, share your findings with us, and with anyone you know who might find some relief from a daily dose of isoflavanoids.