Broccoli Sprouts - What are the Benefits?

Nearly everybody with an interest in their health knows that broccoli is an incredibly healthy superfood; full of important vitamins, and loaded with many of the minerals needed to encourage the development of healthy bones, and promote a strong immune system, but the sprouts themselves might actually be even more beneficial.

According to a recent study published by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Broccoli sprouts are actually up to 10x more nutritious than mature broccoli, and might even be capable of “providing protection against carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, and other forms of toxicity caused by electrophiles and reactive forms of oxygen.” In other words, these powerfully alkalizing green shoots contain such a dense concentration of antioxidant compounds that they may capable of neutralizing any oxygen free radicals in our tissues, and improving our chances of resisting some forms of cancer.

Broccoli Sprouts are also packed with sulforaphane, a naturally occurring compound that has been shown to improve the liver's ability to detoxify carcinogens, and improve the bodies ability to cycle out harmful toxins. Adding a good source of sulforaphane to your diet is also likely to inhibit the development of helicobacter pylorhi bacteria in the stomach, and prevent the buildup of harmful acidic compounds thought to contribute to acidosis; a condition linked to excess blood acidity that causes fatigue, headaches and depression.

It’s not just the abundance of antioxidants, or the high levels of sulforaphane that make broccoli sprouts so special though. Perhaps the greatest benefit associated with this powerfully alkalizing superfood is the excess of chlorophyll that it contains. Chlorophyll, which is often referred to as “Liquefied sun energy” is an incredibly potent biomolecule that plants use to convert sunlight into energy via photosynthesis. Large doses of this important compound are thought to improve oxygen transfer throughout your tissues, and boost your bodies immune system, as well as providing an effective counter to any inflammation-related issues that you might be suffering from

According to Victoria Boutenko, author of Green for Life, the chlorophyll in broccoli sprouts can also help you to:

• resist the buildup of bacteria in wounds
• relieve sore throats
• eliminate bad odours
• provide our organs with iron and other essential minerals
• soothe ulcer tissues

You don’t need to consume all that many broccoli sprouts to start feeling the benefits either. Just add half a cup of 3-4 day old sprouts to the salad, sandwich or stir fry of your choice to begin receiving the full benefit of this antioxidant-rich, alkalizing superfood.

Alternatively, you might want to try a broccoli sprout supplement, which contains all the nutritional value of dehydrated broccoli sprouts, and can be sprinkled on food or added to the juice drink of your choice for more convenient antioxidant protection. Broccoli sprout supplements also have the added advantage of being highly concentrated, which means that you only need to take 3 grams a day.

Our pHresh Greens super green supplement contains organic broccoli sprouts along with other raw greens.

If would like to learn more about the incredible power of chlorophyll, you might also want to consider ordering Victoria Boutenko’s book - Green for Life.

And remember, if you have any questions about this article, we’re always happy to chat. Just call us on +44 (0) 1764 66211