(15-09-15) Brussels sprouts: A powerful food with cancer-fighting potential

by Sandeep Godiyal

(NaturalNews) The cruciferous family of vegetables, which contains vegetables like broccoli, kale and cauliflower, get a lot of attention in the media. The health benefits of these veggies are immense. They are full of fiber to help with weight loss and digestion. They are packed with vitamins and minerals to help fill in the gaps in a nutrient-poor diet. And their sulfur-based compounds have been studied extensively due to their apparent ability to help prevent cancer or to even help treat it once the disease has developed. In all this excitement, however, Brussels sprouts somehow get left out. Unlike in England, where these vegetables are extremely popular, Brussels sprouts have a bad rap here in America. This is unfortunate, since when it comes to superfoods, they are one of the great unsung heroes.

More on Brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts are not one of these fancy new hybridized vegetables. They have a history of cultivation which stretches back as far as ancient Rome. However, they take their name from the city of Brussels in Belgium where they were first written about, way back in the 13th century! In short, from classical times, people all around the world have recognized the nutritional value of these diminutive little veggies.

Modern nutritional science is backing up what ancient and medieval European farmers already apparently knew: Brussels sprouts are incredibly nutrient dense. They have achieved superfood status because they are, for starters, packed with a winning combination of vitamins K and C. They are also a great source of fiber, choline, vitamin B, potassium and protein. In addition to this, they also contain a wealth of bioactive phytonutrients which make them even healthier.

Brussels sprouts' hidden health benefits
One of the great health benefits stems from a group of active compounds found in many cruciferous vegetables called glucosinolates. This term refers to a group of compounds which all contain sulfur and which, once in the body, transform into isothiocynates, which are enzymes that have long been studied for their role in preventing and even treating cancerous cells and masses. The most famous of these in indole-3-carbinol (also known as I3C) which has been shown to halt the replication of breast cancer cells.

Another great health benefit from Brussels sprouts is that these sulfur-containing compounds also help to detoxify the body and remove unwanted wastes. The body requires large amounts of sulfur to help with this process, a nutrient that Brussels sprouts have in spades. In addition, their high amounts of vitamin C and other antioxidant compounds help the body to be more efficient at waste removal. In short, they are a healthy option for any home!

Many Americans are not even quite sure how Brussels sprouts should be cooked! Fortunately, there are plenty of recipes to be found on the Internet which can give delicious ways to prepare this food to make it palatable even to kids and to introduce it into the diet. Doing so can expand the variety of vegetables that are eaten in the average home and give people the amazing health benefits already discussed above.

Sources:

http://www.express.co.uk

http://www.brussels-sprouts.com

http://www.whfoods.com

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