Abstract:
A method of processing seed to nutritionally enhance food where seeds are placed in a tank and sanitized, and then washing and hydrating the seeds. The seeds are then allowed a period of germination before the seeds are dried for a predetermined amount of time and cooled.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION: 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/737,584 filed Jan. 9, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to a method of processing seeds and more particularly to a method of processing seeds to enhance the nutritional qualities of food, expression of prebiotic and probiotic microflora. 
         [0003]    Methods of processing seeds are well known in the art. Conventional methods of processing seeds leave many desired qualities unrealized. Sprouted seeds and grains are a substantial source of nutrients. However, these nutrients, such as activated enzymes and essential fatty acids, are unavailable prior to the seed sprouting due to natural inhibitors that protect it from digestion that are not present during the sprouting process. The presence of these inhibitors prevents methods such as milling and grinding of raw sprouted seeds and grain seeds from obtaining the nutrients locked within the seed. 
         [0004]    The failure of current methods to produce products that have activated enzymes misses a key feature nutrient within seeds. These enzymes are useful in the elimination of toxins, the construction of new tissues and cells, regulation of systemic metabolism, and digestion. The addition of these enzymes becomes more important as individuals age and are less capable of developing these enzymes on their own. 
         [0005]    Additionally, the use of milling and grinding to unlock some of the nutrients has negative consequences. Namely, the ground and milled seeds require special packaging and storage to maintain stability and prevent the seeds from becoming rancid. 
         [0006]    It is also desired to have a method of processing seeds with a higher heat tolerance to maintain the nutritional value of the seeds, express probiotics and prebiotic expression. Currently in the art, conventional methods produced sprouted seeds and grains that are unable to be used in cooking and baking at high temperatures and therefore cannot be incorporated into a number of goods unless special cooking methods are developed that are time consuming, expensive, or cumbersome are utilized. 
         [0007]    Other qualities are also desired that conventional methods cannot realize. For example, it is desired to process seeds in a manner that creates a higher chelation of minerals and enhance enzyme expression and high fiber for better absorption of nutrients by the human body. Also desired is a method of processing seeds that results in lower fat and lower phytic acid. 
         [0008]    Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a method of processing seeds such that minerals liberated and connected to proteins for better absorption by the body and enzymes are better expressed and enhanced. 
         [0009]    A further objective of the present invention is to provide a method of processing seeds that changes a starch to a simple sugar and expand the beneficial nature of probiotics and prebiotics found on germinated seeds. 
         [0010]    These and other objectives will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art based upon the following written description, drawings, and claims. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    A method of processing seeds where after the seeds are sanitized, washed and hydrated, the seeds are subjected to a period of germination prior to drying and cooling. By permitting the seed to germinate and sprout not only is the mineral connection and enzymes liberated and enhanced to proteins improved, but by allowing the seed to sprout, starches are changed to simple sugars as well as prebiotics and probiotics expressed. The method enhances and elevates the nutritional and beneficial microflora value of the seed for use in food, but also puts seed in a better form for absorption in the body. Seed produced by this method preferably is used as an ingredient in infant food, in infant cereals, in other hot and cold cereals, in frozen dough, and for dry mixes and flours. 
         [0012]    When compared to nonsprouted seeds and grains, sprouted seeds and grains using the disclosed method demonstrate a superiority in nutritional value in nearly every category: 
       Nonsprouted Seeds &amp; Grains Compared to Sprouted Seeds &amp; Grains 
       [0013]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 % Δ With Nonsprouted 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Enzymes 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Amylase 
                  +30% 
               
               
                   
                 Lipase 
                 +322% 
               
               
                   
                 Cellulase 
                 +700% 
               
               
                   
                 Protease 
                 +860% 
               
               
                   
                 Vitamins 
               
               
                   
                 B2 
                  +74% 
               
               
                   
                 B3 
                  +21% 
               
               
                   
                 B5 
                  +15% 
               
               
                   
                 B6 
                  +33% 
               
               
                   
                 B12 
                 +120% 
               
               
                   
                 Beta-carotene 
                 +over 1000% 
               
               
                   
                 Biotin 
                 +483% 
               
               
                   
                 C 
                 +925% 
               
               
                   
                 Choline 
                 +over 1000% 
               
               
                   
                 E 
                 +9660%  
               
               
                   
                 Folic Acid 
                 +273% 
               
               
                   
                 Lipids 
               
               
                   
                 Polyunsaturated Fat 
                  +4% 
               
               
                   
                 Monounsaturated Fat 
                  −12% 
               
               
                   
                 Saturated Fat 
                  −9% 
               
               
                   
                 Omega-3 EFA 
                  +31% 
               
               
                   
                 Lignans 
               
               
                   
                 Lignans 
                  +15% 
               
               
                   
                 Proteins 
               
               
                   
                 Protein 
                  +25% 
               
               
                   
                 Aminio Acids 
               
               
                   
                 Alanine 
                 +161% 
               
               
                   
                 Arginine 
                 +122% 
               
               
                   
                 Apartic Acid 
                 +124% 
               
               
                   
                 Cystine 
                 +218% 
               
               
                   
                 Glutamic Acid 
                 +113% 
               
               
                   
                 Glycine 
                 +105% 
               
               
                   
                 Histidine 
                 +136% 
               
               
                   
                 Isoleucine 
                 +145% 
               
               
                   
                 Leucine 
                 +128% 
               
               
                   
                 Lysine 
                 +130% 
               
               
                   
                 Methionine 
                 +153% 
               
               
                   
                 Phenylalanine 
                 +128% 
               
               
                   
                 Proline 
                 +553% 
               
               
                   
                 Serine 
                 +143% 
               
               
                   
                 Threonine 
                 +131% 
               
               
                   
                 Trytophan 
                 +130% 
               
               
                   
                 Tyrosine 
                 +225% 
               
               
                   
                 Valine 
                 +237% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of the environment of performing a method of processing seeds; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of a method of processing seeds. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    Referring to the Figures, a method of processing seeds to nutritionally enhance food begins at step  100  by obtaining seeds  10  from any conventional source. The seeds are of any type and include, but are not limited to, wheat, rye, barley, triticale, rice, quinoa (white, red, and black), oats and oat grouts, buckwheat and grouts, soybean, lentils (red, green, and French), garbanzo beans, flax (brown an golden), chia, corn, millet, amaranth, pea, pumpkin, spelt, kamut, or the like. 
         [0017]    Once obtained, the seeds  10  are placed in a tank  12  where the seeds are sanitized at step  110 . Preferably, the seeds  10  are sanitized by treating the seeds with any organically approved sanitation product such as calcium and hypochlorite or the like. Once sanitized, the tank  12  is drained and the seeds  10  are washed and hydrated with water at step  120 , preferably by using small sprayers or misters  14 . In one embodiment, the seeds are washed for at least one minute but less than seven days. In an alternative embodiment, the seeds are washed for at least one minute but no more than five hours. In another embodiment, the seeds are washed for at least one minute but no more than four hours. In yet another embodiment, the seeds are washed for at least twelve hours and no more than seven days. 
         [0018]    Once the seeds are washed and hydrated, they are set aside for a germination period at step  130 . The germination period preferably lasts between one minute and seven days depending upon the type of seed, amount of hydration, and/or temperature. In one embodiment, the seeds are set aside to germinate for a period of at least eleven hours and no more than three days. In one embodiment, the seeds are allowed to germinate for a period greater than one day (twenty-four hours). If seeds are not allowed to germinate for longer than ten hours, the seeds nutritional levels cannot reach their peak. Conversely, allowing the seeds to germinate for periods longer than necessary results in the nutrients in the seeds to deplete as the seed will begin to use the nutrients. 
         [0019]    Further, the germination period can be done without or with air circulation to provide more oxygen to the seeds. Preferably, air circulation is provided by a fan  16  that is connected to the tank  12  by tubing  18  or by a rotating auger  20  placed in the tank  12 . 
         [0020]    When the germination period is completed, the seeds  10  are removed from the tank  12  and placed on trays  22 , which are positioned on racks  24 , and then dried at step  140 . The drying of the germinated seeds preferably is done in an oven  26  having airflow, an infrared heater  28 , or a fluid bed  30  having an auger that vibrates the seeds as hot air withdraws the moisture. The drying period ends when the temperature of the seeds is between 90 and 350° F. In one embodiment, the seeds are dried at a temperature of 180° F. to eliminate potential pathogens, but maintain probiotics. In alternative embodiments, temperatures of at least 140 and no more than 185° F. are used to dry. 
         [0021]    In order to maintain the nutrient value of the seeds, a longer duration of drying is needed—for example a period greater than one hour. For instance, in one embodiment the seeds are dried for a period of at least twelve hours and no more than 24 hours in order to express and maintain the prebiotics, the probiotics, live enzymes, active ligan, rutin, and quenercin (found in buckwheat) and other nutrients found in the sprouting attributes. A shorter drying period, for instance, a period of thirty minutes, would result in the destruction of much of this nutritional value and therefore a slow drying process is critical. 
         [0022]    Once dried, the seeds  10  are cooled at step  150 , either in ambient air or incoming circulated air from a fan or blower  32 . After the seeds  10  have cooled, they are, in one embodiment, subjected to further processing at step  160 . The further processing includes grinding, blending or flaking, with or without non-sprouted seeds, flours, or superfruits. At step  170 , the processed seeds are hydrated and/or redried to make the processed seed compatible for freezing, cereals, or doughs. Finally, at step  180 , the processed seeds are packaged, labeled, and shipped. 
         [0023]    Alternatively, after the seeds  10  have cooled, at step  190 , the seeds are milled. Once milled, at step  200 , the milled seeds are dry blended with other grains. Finally, the blended mixture is packaged and labeled at step  180 . 
         [0024]    At step  210 , the processed seeds or milled seeds are cooked or baked into a product such as a cooked or baked good. In one embodiment, the processed seeds are cooked to an internal temperature between 140 and 185° F. Cooking at higher temperatures, such as these, is critical to killing potential pathogens. Previous methods were unable to produce processed seeds capable of being heated to internal temperatures this high without significant nutrient loss. 
         [0025]    For illustrative purposes, sprouted flax, barley, wheat, quinoa, and 9 grain produced using the disclosed method were tested and subsequently heat tested to determine nutrient degradation. As shown in the charts below, insignificant degradation occurred thereby demonstrating the suitability of the processed seeds of the disclosed method for use in high-temperature scenarios. 
       Before Heat Treatment (As Is) 
       [0026]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Test 
                 S. Flax 
                 S. Barley 
                 S. Wheat 
                 S. Quinoa 
                 S. 9 Grain 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Probiotics 
                 36,000,000 
                 34,000,000 
                 30,000,000 
                 33,000,000 
                 31,000,000 
               
               
                 (Total Load) 
               
               
                 cfu/g 
               
               
                 Prebioitics 
                 33 
                 32 
                 27 
                 28 
                 34 
               
               
                 (FOS) 
               
               
                 mg/g 
               
               
                 Enzymes 
                 455 
                 452 
                 389 
                 393 
                 452 
               
               
                 (Lipase) 
               
               
                 LU/g 
               
               
                 Vitamins 
                 1.65 
                 5.00 
                 3.36 
                 1.85 
                 3.40 
               
               
                 (Niacin) 
               
               
                 mg/100 g 
               
               
                 Minerals 
                 7.22 
                 8.93 
                 2.95 
                 8.64 
                 8.95 
               
               
                 (Iron) 
               
               
                 mg/100 g 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Post Heat Treatment 
       [0027]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Test 
                 S. Flax 
                 S. Barley 
                 S. Wheat 
                 S. Quinoa 
                 S. 9 Grain 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Probiotics 
                 33,000,000 
                 32,000,000 
                 30,000,000 
                 30,000,000 
                 29,0000,000 
               
               
                 (Total Load) 
               
               
                 cfu/g 
               
               
                 Prebioitics 
                 32 
                 30 
                 25 
                 27 
                 31 
               
               
                 (FOS) 
               
               
                 mg/g 
               
               
                 Enzymes 
                 452 
                 450 
                 383 
                 394 
                 448 
               
               
                 (Lipase) 
               
               
                 LU/g 
               
               
                 Vitamins 
                 1.61 
                 4.97 
                 3.30 
                 1.84 
                 3.39 
               
               
                 (Niacin) 
               
               
                 mg/100 g 
               
               
                 Minerals 
                 7.10 
                 8.81 
                 2.87 
                 8.62 
                 8.92 
               
               
                 (Iron) 
               
               
                 mg/100 g 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0028]    Accordingly, a method of processing seeds to nutritionally enhance food and prebiotic and probiotic microflora has been disclosed that, at the very least, meets all the stated objectives.