Brussels sprouts help digestion and diet: See the 11 Benefits
Brussels sprouts are rich in phytonutrients, which will boost your immune system that will defend you against diseases, including cancer.
Brussels sprouts are a member of the Brassicaceae family of vegetables and are closely related to kale, cauliflower and mustard leaves.
These cruciferous vegetables resemble mini cabbages and are typically sliced, cleaned and cooked to make a nutritious side dish or main dish.
Brussels sprouts are high in many nutrients and have been linked to a number of health benefits. This article examines 10 ways Brussels sprouts can benefit your health.
Nutritional table
The following table shows the nutritional information for raw and cooked Brussels sprouts :
Nutritional values: | raw brussels sprouts | braised brussels sprouts |
Energy | 28 kcal | 23 kcal |
proteins | 1,4 g | 1,7 g |
fats | 0,4 g | 0,4 g |
carbohydrates | 3,5 g | 2,2 g |
Food fibers | 2,4 g | 1,7 g |
Water | 91,8 g | 93,5 g |
Calcium | 50 mg | 45 mg |
Phosphor | 38 mg | 32 mg |
Ferro | 0,6 mg | 0,4 mg |
Sodium | 7 mg | 100 mg |
Potassium | 240 mg | 110 mg |
Magnesium | 6 mg | 5 mg |
C vitamin | 40 mg | 76,9 mg |
Vitamin A | 7 mcg | 6 mcg |
Vitamin B1 | 0,12 mg | 0,07 mg |
Vitamina B2 | 0,01 mg | 0,07 mg |
Vitamin B3 | 0,3 mg | 0,2 mg |
vitamina B6 | 0,18 mg | 0,11 mg |
Vitamina B9 | 34 mcg | 16 mcg |
Brussels sprouts are especially rich in vitamin C , an antioxidant that helps promote iron absorption and is involved in tissue repair and immune function.
What’s more, its high fiber content helps maintain regularity and gut health.
In addition to the above nutrients, Brussels sprouts contain small amounts of vitamin B6, potassium, iron, thiamine, magnesium and phosphorus.
Brussels sprouts not only contain essential nutrients for our body, but also some health benefits that can make you eat them much more. Here are 11 reasons why Brussels sprouts taste even better.
Benefits:
Brussels sprouts are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making them a nutritious addition to your diet.
They may also have additional health benefits, including the potential to reduce cancer risk, decrease inflammation, and improve blood sugar control.
Adding Brussels sprouts to a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains has the potential to have a big positive impact on your health.
1. It’s good for cholesterol:
The high fiber content (over 15% of our RDA) in Brussels sprouts lowers cholesterol by binding to bile acids that the liver produces from cholesterol to digest fat. As many of these bile acids are coupled with fiber, the liver is responsible for producing more bile acid to digest fat and therefore requires more cholesterol, ultimately lowering the amount of cholesterol in our body.
2. It’s good for DNA:
Recent studies have shown that certain compounds in Brussels sprouts block the activity of sulphotransferase enzymes that can be detrimental to the health and stability of the DNA within white blood cells.
A number of antioxidant ingredients are found in Brussels sprouts , including vitamins C, E, and A, as well as the mineral manganese . In addition, flavonoid antioxidants like isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol also serve to protect against oxidative stress in the body’s cells.
3. Reduces inflammation:
A glucosinolate is particularly abundant in Brussels sprouts , it has been found to fight inflammation on a genetic level, once converted into the indole-3-carbinol, or ITC, molecule. Furthermore, one and a half cups of Brussels sprouts contain around 430 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids, which are an essential part of our body’s anti-inflammatory message molecules.
Finally, the wealth of vitamin K found in Brussels sprouts effectively helps regulate our body’s inflammatory response.
4. Prevents cancer:
Brussels sprouts glucosinolates and their detox-activating isothiocyanates help fight and even prevent various types of cancer, including bladder, breast, colon, lung, prostate and ovarian cancer.
5. Strengthens the cardiovascular system:
Brussels sprouts contain the sulforaphane isothiocyanate made from glucosinolates . These powerful compounds not only trigger anti-inflammatory activity in our cardiovascular system, but can also prevent and possibly even help reverse blood vessel damage.
By regulating inflammation in the body, Brussels sprouts can fight the onset of heart attacks, ischemic heart disease and arteriosclerosis. In addition, the aforementioned cholesterol can also decrease the possibility of arterial blockage.
6. Aid in digestion and diet:
A cup of Brussels sprouts contains four grams (16% of the RDA) of dietary fiber, which can aid digestion, prevent constipation, keep blood sugar low.
The sulforaphane found in Brussels sprouts also protects our stomach by blocking the overgrowth of Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria that can lead to gastric cancer.
7. It is rich in vitamin K:
Brussels sprouts are especially rich in vitamin K (one cup contains 273.5% of the RDA), which promotes bone health, prevents calcification of body tissues, serves as an anti-oxidant and an anti-inflammatory agent, and is essential for brain and nerve function.
8. It is rich in vitamin C:
The nutritional benefits of vitamin C (one cup contains over 161% of the RDA) found in Brussels sprouts ensures a healthy immune system, helps with hypertension, blood pressure , fights lead poisoning, cataracts, and serves as a powerful antioxidant that prevents “cellular rust” which can lead to atherosclerosis, heart disease, stroke and cancer.
9. It is rich in vitamin A:
It also contains over 20% of the RDA of vitamin A which boosts immunity, protects the eyes against cataracts and macular degeneration, maintains healthy bones and teeth, prevents urinary stones, and is essential for the reproductive organs.
10. It is rich in folate:
A biochemical event called the methylation cycle relies on folate to properly transcribe DNA, transform norepinephrine into adrenaline, as well as transform serotonin into melatonin.
Folate suppresses the amino acid homocysteine that contribute to heart disease. A cup of Brussels sprouts contains a good dose of folic acid (nearly 25% of the RDA) and the associated health benefits.