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You Never Knew This Veggie Is The New Detoxifying Food
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There’s a new superfood on the block, and in vegetable terms, it’s just a baby. We’re talking about broccoli sprouts.
Sprouts in general have become a popular addition to salads, wraps, and sandwiches. Most commonly it is bean sprouts that are used in these dishes, but it turns out that broccoli sprouts, picked at just a few days old may be the healthiest variety. They may perhaps even be healthier than the mature, tree-like broccoli we’re all familiar with. In this article, we’ll explain the health benefits of these amazing little vegetables and why you need to start incorporating more of these little guys into your diet right away.
Broccoli is widely regarded as one of the healthiest cruciferous vegetables you can eat, and recent research shows that the immature broccoli sprouts may have even higher concentrations of key nutrients than the mature vegetable. If you do not like the taste of broccoli, you can try eating the sprouts instead, as the taste of the sprouts is much more mild and can be subdued entirely by blending it with other foods. Lemon juice also compliments the taste of broccoli sprouts very well, so you’d better add these all to your shopping list because the benefits of broccoli sprouts are enormous!
1. Source of sulforaphane
Of the most potent nutrients found in broccoli sprouts is sulforaphane, an organic sulphur compound that is tied to the numerous health benefits associated with this food. Another major factor in the nutritional profile of broccoli sprouts is the concentration of glucoraphanin, a “chemoprotective compound” which defends against cancer. Research has shown that the sprouts contain up to 100 times the levels of glucoraphanin found in fully grown broccoli.
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2. Natural detoxifying properties
A Johns Hopkins University study found that broccoli sprouts contain detoxifying nutrients that can help fight the buildup of harmful compounds in the body. Most of the heavy lifting when it comes to detoxification is done by the liver and the kidneys, and it was long thought that diet did not play much of a role. But as scientists learned more about nutrition, it became clear that eating certain foods could actually help these organs do their jobs better, and improve health.
3. Broccoli sprouts fight against cancer
A study was conducted in China to determine whether or not there was a relationship between taking in broccoli sprouts and reducing levels of carcinogenic compounds. Many large cities in China are affected by severe air pollution, which in turn leads to increased risks of various forms of cancer. The study, which involved over 300 participants, found that broccoli sprouts actually helped detoxify carcinogenic chemicals in the body. Researchers found that participants who ate broccoli sprouts saw their levels of the carcinogen acrolein reduced by 23 percent, and levels of benzene, another compound linked to cancer, reduced by a whopping 61 percent.
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4. Good for heart and respiratory health
Eating more broccoli sprouts can reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases like strokes and heart attacks. This is due to the presence of sulforaphane, which lowers blood triglycerides, blood pressure and harmful LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels. A study published in Diabetes Research in Clinical Studies found that eating broccoli sprouts can be especially beneficial to people living with Type 2 diabetes.
Likewise, broccoli sprouts can reduce the symptoms of certain respiratory conditions. These sprouts contain powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties that can alleviate symptoms of asthma and other respiratory diseases. This is also linked to the presence of sulphoraphane.
5. Broccoli sprouts are great for your stomach
Broccoli sprouts actually have powerful antimicrobial properties that can fight against bacterial infections, and even gastric cancer. This particular form of cancer is linked to a type of bacteria called h.pylori. Researchers who studied the effects of broccoli sprouts on mice found that feeding the animals these sprouts reduced their levels of h.pylori significantly over a period of two months, thereby reducing their risks of gastric cancer.
READ ALSO: 10 Reasons To Choose Broccoli Infographic
There really is no argument against eating these tasty little sprouts. There are not many foods that pack so many nutrients into a single package, and they make such an easy addition to so many existing dishes. Pick some up today and add some to your favorite salad or sandwich and you’ll be taking a major step towards a healthier body and life.
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