Is broccoli sprouts the most nutritious and beneficial food?
1) Broccoli sprouts is a great detoxifier. Broccoli contains 3 glucosinolate phytonutrients (Glucoraphanin, glucononasturtiian, and glucobrassicin). This trio helps support all steps in the body’s detox process, including activation, neutralization, and elimination of unwanted contamininants.
2) Broccoli sprouts is a rich source of A (in the form of beta-carotene), B, E, K, C, D. Vitamin C aids in iron absorption in the body, fight the development of cataracts, and eases the symptoms of the common cold. Folic acid helps women sustain normal tissue growth; which will in turn help during pregnancies. Potassium aids in lowering high blood pressure. Calcium helps battle osteoporosis. Broccoli sprouts are also rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, chlorophyll, and amino acids. It also contains 35% protein.
3) Broccoli sprout is anti-inflammatory. It has a rich source of a flavonoid called kaempferol, which have unique anti-inflammatory benefits. This can lessen the impact of allergy-related substances on our body. It also helps with asthma related problems.
4) Broccoli sprouts is rich in fiber. This will not only enhance the GI tract, but help support healthy cholesterol levels. A pilot study from Tokyo University of Agriculture & technology on the effects of cholesterol and the benefits of eating broccoli sprouts, showed a decrease of the bad cholesterol and a decrease of HDL (the good cholesterol) in just one week.
5) Broccoli sprouts is beneficial in preventing cancer. It contains indol-3-carbinol; which helps to protect people from hormone-related cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer. The I-3-C supports the good hormones, while working against the destructive ones. In 1992, Johns Hopkins University isolated a cancer fighting phytochemical in broccoli called glucoranphanin, which makes sulforaphane glucosinolate or SGS and is helpful for carcinogen detoxification, stomach cancer, inhibiting tumor progression, and many other forms of cancer.
6) Broccoli sprouts support a healthy cardiovascular system. Dr. Bernhard Juurlink at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, found sulforaphane-induced Phase 2 enzymes from broccoli sprouts improved cardiovascular health by decreasing inflammation and improving heart, artery and kidney function.
7) Broccoli sprouts have high levels of antioxidants. This great source, stimulates the body’s immune system to deactivate free radicals.
8) Broccoli sprouts may help with type 2 diabetes. Sulforaphane from broccoli may help reverse the damaging effects of diabetes-linked vascular disease. A collaborative group in Iran showed a myrosinase-active broccoli sprout powder had favorable effects on oxidative stress status in type 2 diabetes patients over a four-week period. Queensland University in Australia is currently conducting a small pilot study with type 2 diabetic aged 18 to 60 and is planned to continue for 6 months. This is the first stage. There will be a bigger trial later on in 2015. The highly-concentrated powder has already been shown to change blood markers in diabetics. Dr. Christine Houghton of Queensland University said, "We are the first in the world anywhere to use a broccoli sprout capsule".
9) Broccoli sprouts help your skin be protected from UV rays. A team of Johns Hopkins scientists reported in an October 2007 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that humans can be protected against the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation - the most abundant cancer-causing agent in our environment - by topical application of an extract of broccoli sprouts.
10) Broccoli sprouts helps fight blindness. According to a Johns Hopkins University scientists studied the ability of sulforaphane to protect retinal pigment epithelial cells from damage by chemical carcinogens and by ultraviolet light. These processes are the similar to the kind of damage that can lead to macular degeneration in the eye. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly.
11) Broccoli sprouts are beneficial for the help of people with COPD that damage immune cells and limits the lungs ability to fight off bacterial infections. A team of scientists at Johns Hopkins University, led by Drs. Shyam Biswal and Robert Wise, investigated why macrophages don’t work properly in COPD patients. Previous research suggested that a process called oxidative stress might be to blame. Oxidative stress occurs when the body can’t effectively neutralize damaging compounds called peroxides and free radicals. Sulforaphane was discovered in 1992 at Johns Hopkins and much related research still comes from there. They hold the key patents and indeed went as far as to try to stop other people growing/selling broccoli sprouts. They have developed a way to produce Sulforaphane in the laboratory and then it is freeze dried and kept frozen at -20 Celsius. A study at John Hopkins Unversity to investigate whether ingestion of sulforaphane by COPD patients will increase Nrf2 activity and expression of downstream antioxidants. This study was started in September 2010 and ended in June 2014. The results can be found on the web. "This research may help explain the long-established link between diet and lung disease, and raises the potential for new approaches to treatment of this often devastating disease," said Robert Wise, MD, co-author of the study and professor of Medicine in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
12) Broccoli sprouts have been found helpful with people who suffer with autism. According to ABC News, a chemical derived from broccoli sprouts could help treat symptoms of autism, according to a new study from Johns Hopkins and Harvard hospitals.
All major grocery chains will no longer sell any sprouts. This is because, in the past 20 years, 2,500 Americans were sickened by contaminated sprouts in at least 46 outbreaks. They fear that their customers might have too big a chance in getting Salmonella, E Coli, and Listeria, and it is too much of a risk. However, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and fresh and easy will sell sprouts, but just not alfalfa sprouts. It seems that alfalfa sprouts have been the ones with the problem. But, according to CDC (Centers for disease control and prevention), people developed sickness, such as salmonella, from eggs far more than from sprouts. However, if you want to be totally safe, learn how to sprout yourself and then you can sprout the proper way (quality control from an expert you can trust - yourself).
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