In today’s world where people are becoming more and more aware of their health, broccoli sprouts come as a boon into their day-to-day lives. Individuals have known for quite a while that the sprouts of cruciferous vegetables are bursting with nutrients. It helps in keeping them fit and provides various medicinal benefits as well.
Top 5 – Amazing Health Benefits Of Broccoli Sprouts
Broccoli sprouts are gaining popularity with researchers and clinicians in nutrition, who are constantly trying to find benefits that can be extracted from this amazing puny plant. These sprouts are quite rich in a phytochemical known as Sulforaphane. It is a bioactive compound, which is produced in great concentrations when these sprouts are eaten.
Sulforaphane has been identified as one of the most effective phytochemicals by many researchers and various published studies. It possesses many extraordinary health benefits which help people in detoxifying, protecting their skin, fighting malignant cells, and many other potential perks.
Sulforaphane can be found in various vegetables and greens. Foods like cauliflower, arugula, Brussels sprouts, etc. contain sulforaphane as well, but not like broccoli sprouts. Broccoli sprouts can be termed as the main source of Sulforaphane, containing around 20-40 times more sulforaphane than even mature broccoli.
Health Benefits of Broccoli Sprouts
Broccoli sprouts contain protein and fiber in abundance in merely a few calories. The sprouts are gushing with many nutrients and vitamins which help the body in various ways, like Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Iron, Calcium, etc. Some of the advantages that can be derived from consuming broccoli sprouts are cited as follows:
- Detox
The human body consists of well-developed systems that help in the detoxification of the blood from various harmful substances from the body cells. The detox system contains phase 2 enzymes which are primarily found in the liver but can also be found in the lungs, adrenal glands, and skin as well.
These enzymes help in the removal of the dangerous chemicals from the body, but a deficiency of these enzymes may result in organ dysfunction, cellular damage, or even cancer.
Broccoli Sprouts help in increasing these phase 2 enzymes in the intestines, stomach, skin, and even liver, which helps to prevent liver damage from toxins. With the consumption of the sprouts, these toxins are seeped out of the body via urine, colon, or sweat.
- Cardiovascular System Support
Few of the various symptoms related to cardiovascular diseases like stroke and heart attack are
- High blood pressure which is an associated sign of the possible harm to blood vessels
- Development of arterial plaque in the blood vessels and heart.
- High Cholesterol
- Inflammation
An abnormality in the functioning of the blood vessels may sometimes follow other kidney diseases and diabetes (Type 2).
Thus, bioactive compounds such as sulforaphane, which is abundantly found in broccoli sprouts, help in the creation of protective enzymes which in turn aids in the sustenance of the blood vessels and also protect the immune system from probable cell damage.
By aiming at the function of the blood vessel lining, also known as the endothelium, sulforaphane can help a group of health abnormalities.
- Healthy Stomach
Gastrointestinal tract lining cells, also known as the enterocytes, need to work properly for an individual to enjoy good health. Sulforaphane helps in the efficient functioning of these cells.
Helicobacter Pylori, a usual stomach infection, can possibly lead to stomach ulcers and inflammation. Thus, according to the various published studies and researches, sulforaphane has displayed the destruction of the Helicobacter Pylori bacteria and also controls inflammation in the stomach lining.
- Protection against Disease
Sometimes in a human body, there is a development of malignant cells, wherein cells grow and mutate contrarily than the healthy cells, which results in complicated disease, Cancer. The sulforaphane may help in battling the growth of the malignant cells in the following ways:
- It may help in encouraging the death of cancerous cells.
- It may also help in preventing the malignant tumors from developing new blood vessels in cancerous tissue.
- It may block cancerous cells from replicating.
- Sulforaphane may help in blocking the function of DNA mutation.
- Skin Protection
The skin protects a person from the fierce environment, pathogens and also helps in controlling the body temperature. Broccoli sprouts help the skin to heal from the inside out.
The skin might get damaged due to the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun which may lead to wrinkles, skin discoloration, and volume loss. But sulforaphane in the broccoli sprouts helps in the protection from these abnormalities. It also helps in delaying aging as well and keeps the skin young and healthy.
Some Other Benefits
- Broccoli sprouts or its extract is used as medicine, taken for allergy, prostate cancer, schizophrenia, etc.
- The extract, if applied to skin, helps to prevent sunburn.
- Helps to reduce constipation and maintains a good digestive system.
- It may also help in protecting the eyesight.
- Sulforaphane which is derived from broccoli sprouts helps in supporting the health of people in their old age and reduces factors contributing to an unhealthy quality of life.
- The studies have also proved sulforaphane to be a remarkably good treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).