Brussels Sprouts

See also : Cruciferous Vegetables

Special Precautions of Brussels Sprouts

• Cruciferous Vegetables are excellent accumulators of heavy metals, including thallium. Cruciferous vegetables include: kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, collard and mustard greens. While considering kale’s explosion in popularity, Hrecent reports made the link between cruciferous vegetables and possible thallium toxicity.

Health Benefits and uses of Brussels Sprouts are

• Brussel sprouts are one of the low-glycemic nutritious vegetables that should be considered in weight reduction programs. 100 grams of brussel sprouts provide just 45 calories, nonetheless, they contain 3.38 g of protein, 3.80 g of dietary fiber (10% of RDA) and zero cholesterol.
• a storehouse of several flavonoid anti-oxidants such as thiocyanates, indoles, lutein, zea-xanthin, sulforaphane and isothiocyanates. Together, these phytochemicals offer protection from prostate, colon, and endometrial cancers.
• Di-indolyl-methane (DIM), a metabolite of indole-3-carbinol, is found to be an effective immune modulator, anti-bacterial and anti-viral agent through its action of potentiating "Interferon-gamma" receptors.
• contain a glucoside, sinigrin. Early laboratory studies suggest that sinigrin helps protect from colon cancers by destroying pre-cancerous cells.
• an excellent sources of vitamin C; 100 g sprouts provide about 85 mg or 142% of RDA. Together with other antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin A and E, it helps protect the human body by trapping harmful free radicals.
• Zeaxanthin, an important dietary carotenoid found in sprouts, is selectively absorbed into the retinal macula-lutea in the eyes where it is thought to provide anti-oxidant and protective light-filtering functions from UV rays. Thus, it helps prevent retinal damage, "age-related macular degeneration related macular degeneration disease" (ARMD), in the elderly.
• a good source of another anti-oxidant vitamin, Vitamin A; providing about 754 IU per 100 g (25% of RDA). Vitamin-A is required for maintaining healthy mucosa and skin, and is essential for eye health. Foods rich in this vitamin have been found to offer protection against lung and oral cavity cancers.
• It is one of the excellent vegetable sources for vitamin-K; 100 g provides about 177 µg or about 147% of RDA. Vitamin K has potential role bone health by promoting osteotrophic (bone formation and strengthening) activity. Adequate vitamin-K levels in the diet help limiting neuronal damage in the brain and thereby, preventing or at least delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
• the sprouts are notably good in many B-complex groups of vitamins such as niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin, pantothenic acid, etc., that are essential for substrate metabolism inside the human body.
• rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. 100 g fresh sprouts provide 25 mg (1.5% of RDA) sodium and 389 mg (8% of RDA) potassium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure by countering effects of sodium. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is required for cellular oxidation and red blood cell formation.
• Brussels sprouts are incredibly nutritious vegetables that offers protection from vitamin-A deficiency, bone loss, iron-deficiency anemia, and believed to protect from cardiovascular diseases and colon and prostate cancers.