Why Sprouts Might Be the Most Powerful Food on the Planet
Doug Evans Explains
For years, we've been sold the idea that eating healthy is complicated, expensive, or out of reach. But what if I told you the most powerful superfood on the planet is something you can grow in your kitchen without soil, sunlight, or even much effort?
OneSkin | Topical Products for Healthy Aging
Use code LWBW here for 15% off your first order
This week on Live Well, Be Well, I sit down with Doug Evans, the ultimate advocate for sprouting, to uncover how these tiny plants can revolutionise our health, longevity, and even the global food system. Doug isn’t just a passionate Sprout evangelist—his journey from a fast-food diet to becoming the Sprout Guy is nothing short of transformational. He shares the science behind why sprouts are nutritional powerhouses, packed with protein, antioxidants, and micronutrients that can help combat chronic disease, enhance gut health, and support sustainable eating.
We also dive into his personal story—from overcoming a tough upbringing to discovering the raw, plant-based lifestyle that changed everything. And yes, we tackle the myths: Are sprouts safe? Do they contain enough protein? Can you really thrive eating just sprouts? Doug has the answers, and they might just challenge everything you thought you knew about nutrition.
In This Episode, We Explore:
Why sprouts might be the most nutrient-dense food on the planet
The simple, affordable way to grow your own food at home
How sprouting can increase protein, vitamins, and antioxidants by over 300%
The science behind sulforaphane and its powerful benefits for brain and metabolic health
Doug’s personal transformation and how he became the face of the sprouting revolution
The truth about food justice, sustainability, and why sprouting could change the way we eat
This episode is packed with game-changing insights, practical takeaways, and a new way to look at food. Whether you're a hardcore health enthusiast or just curious about levelling up your nutrition, this conversation will leave you inspired to rethink what’s possible in your kitchen.
Connect with Doug Evans:
Follow Doug on Instagram & TikTok – @dougevans for daily sprouting tips, nutrition insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at his plant-based lifestyle.
Grab a Copy of The Sprout Book – A deep dive into the power of sprouts, their nutritional benefits, and practical ways to integrate them into your diet. Available here.
Join the Sprouting Movement – Visit The Sprouting Company to explore high-quality sprouting kits, seeds, and resources to start your journey.
My personal insights and takeaways
1. The Hidden Power of Sprouts
"A sprout is a seed that is germinated... It's a baby version of the vegetables that we're familiar with. And the best part? They grow without soil, sunshine, or fertilizer in days."
Reflection: Sprouts aren’t just a garnish – they’re powerhouses of nutrition that can be grown anywhere, making them one of the most accessible and sustainable sources of fresh food.
2. The Biggest Health Myth Doug Once Believed
"I thought I needed to eat meat, chicken, fish every day, or I would become emaciated and fade away."
Reflection: The belief that animal protein is essential for health is deeply ingrained in many cultures. Doug’s journey proves that a plant-based diet can be not only sufficient but thriving.
3. Nature’s Cheat Code for Better Nutrition
"When you sprout a lentil, you increase the vitamin C by 300%. You quadruple the antioxidants. And you make the amino acid profile much more bioavailable."
Reflection: Instead of expensive supplements, we can unlock the full potential of plant foods by sprouting, making them nutrient-dense, affordable, and highly absorbable.
4. The Environmental Case for Sprouting
"The average leaf of lettuce in the United States travels 2,000 miles before it gets to the grocery store. Sprouts travel two feet—from your kitchen counter to your plate."
Reflection: Our food choices have a massive environmental footprint. Growing sprouts at home eliminates food miles, reduces waste, and ensures maximum freshness and nutrition.
5. Rethinking Weight Loss and Satiety
"If someone wants to lose weight, they just add sprouts to their diet. The more weight they want to lose, the more sprouts they eat."
Reflection: Instead of restrictive diets, adding nutrient-dense, fibre-rich foods like sprouts can naturally help regulate appetite, keeping us full and nourished.
6. The Science of Sprouts and Disease Prevention
"Sprouts contain sulforaphane, a compound that has chemo-protective properties, can prevent and kill cancer cells, and detoxify air pollutants from the lungs."
Reflection: Food truly is medicine. Sprouts, particularly broccoli sprouts, have been extensively studied for their anti-cancer and detoxifying benefits, proving how powerful plants can be.
7. The Importance of Simple, Whole Foods
"The vitamins were designed to be part of a complex food structure. The isolation and synthetic fabrication of individual reductionism has proven not to be effective."
Reflection: Whole foods work in synergy. Rather than relying on synthetic supplements, prioritising natural, whole plant-based foods allows our bodies to absorb nutrients as nature intended.
8. Turning Life’s Challenges into Purpose
"Losing my mother was the most heart-wrenching thing. But I realized—you're not genetically cursed. You’re living a carcinogenic, diabetic, heart disease-laden lifestyle. And you can change your life, change your genes, change your destiny."
Reflection: Tragedy can be a turning point. Instead of accepting health decline as fate, Doug used his family’s health struggles as a catalyst for transformation.
9. You Are What You Consume – In Every Sense
"I made the mistake once of going down a rabbit hole online, and suddenly I was seeing toxic content. You have to train the algorithm to show you love—babies, yoga, nutrition, things that nourish you."
Reflection: The same way we curate our diets, we need to curate our minds. What we consume—online, in conversation, in our environment—shapes our well-being.
10. The Real Meaning of Living Well
"To me, ‘Live Well, Be Well’ means raising your standards—who you associate with, what you eat, where you go, what you read. Just raising your standards."
Reflection: Living well isn’t about perfection. It’s about intentional choices—choosing better foods, relationships, environments, and habits that align with our best selves.
Skincare 101: What Actually Are Peptides?
Although One Skin is a partner for the show - I am genuinely a huge fan of their skincare. Since I came across them, I have been using there skin care routine - Skin cleanser, moisturiser and eye cream. This is a skin care that is different - rooted in deep science and founded by 4 women scientists who discovered a new skin peptide whereby their studies have shown it actively helps reduce your ageing skin.
I take deep care in analysing brands when they are linked to scientific data - and I am a huge advocate of what OneSkin represents and their products. It has honestly done wonders for my skin.
Here is a little bit about their skin science:
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as building blocks for collagen, elastin, and essential proteins in your skin, meaning they play a crucial role in maintaining firmness, elasticity, and overall skin health.
But not all peptides are created equal—some just sit on the surface, while others go deeper to truly support skin health.
One Skin discovered a peptide which they call OS-1. This breakthrough OS-01 peptide boosts DNA damage repair in senescent cells, preventing them from secreting pro-aging factors.
What are senescent cells?
Often called “zombie cells,” senescent cells secrete pro-aging factors that drive healthy neighbouring cells to age faster and become senescent as well. As more cells become “infected”, the body experiences
As more senescent cells accumulate, your skin experiences accelerated skin aging, including visible signs like wrinkles, loss of elasticity and firmness, crepiness, and thinning. See the graph below.
OneSkin’s OS-01 peptide targets skin ageing at the source, helping to strengthen and rejuvenate your skin at the molecular level.
This effectively stops the spread of senescence and reduces your skin’s biological age at the cellular level.
Want to see the difference? Use code LWBW for 15% off your first order here.
One Skin Data
01 Based on data from clinical studies and/or lab studies conducted on human skin samples, 3D skin models, and skin cells in the OneSkin lab. Explore more at oneskin.co/claims
02Zonari, A., et al. npj Aging, 2023
03Boroni, M. et al. Clinical Epigenetics, 2020
04Zonari, A., et al. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Let us know what you think of this week’s episode and whether you’ll be adding sprouts to your routine! What small changes can you make today to support your health and longevity? I love hearing from you, so feel free to share your thoughts!