Broccoli Sprouts and their Medicinal Power
This month we are moving beyond “awareness” of breast cancer to taking action – beyond mammograms and ribbon displays. Because, really, they don’t stop breast cancer.
Last week I shared with you the power of pomegranates (if you missed it, look up the previous email from us).
This week, let’s cover broccoli sprouts and their medicinal power.
Plus, I have a brand new recipe for you – the Broccoli Sprout Shot (see below).
Many people assume that broccoli sprouts are the same as broccoli. Yes, they are the “baby” version of a full broccoli head, but nutritionally, they contain a few compounds in vastly higher amounts than mature broccoli, namely:
Sulforaphane
Best known as the “cancer cell killer”. Broccoli sprouts contain 30 to 100 times more sulforaphane than broccoli. It’s a big deal because sulforaphane does three amazing things:
- It is a natural “estrogen blocker” – it parks itself in the estrogen receptors and stops the “bad” estrogens from growing malignant tissue, like in the case of breast cancer.
- It is a powerful liver detoxifier – it induces phase 2 detoxification enzymes and increases glutathione (the master antioxidant) production.
- It prevents osteoporosis – by protecting against cartilage destruction that promotes formation of osteoblasts
Quercetin
A potent anti-inflammatory agent; keeping inflammation at bay is key in hormone production as well cancer prevention and management.
Alkalizer
Broccoli sprouts are highly alkalizing; cancer experts believe that cancer is more prone to growing in an acidic body.
How to eat and how much?
Firstly, eat them raw, not cooked. Be sure to chew them well – mastication is what releases sulforaphane.
You can:
- Add them to salads or sandwiches
- Add them to a burrito roll
- Add to a smoothie
- Garnish your soup
- Make this easy Broccoli Sprout Shot
How much?
½ cup per day for prevention.
1 cup per day if you have breast cancer.
Where to get them?
Most health stores carry them, typically in the salad section.
Note: other sprouts such as bean, alfalfa, and clover are great to eat but they do not contain sulforaphane.
How to grow them?
You can also grow your own sprouts, it’s a simple as:
- Buy organic broccoli seeds (store or online)
- Soak 2 tablespoons of seeds for 12 to 24 hours. Drain.
- Place the seeds in a clean mason jar. Cover with a muslin cloth and place the jar on the side, dispersing the seeds. Keep the jar in a well ventilated place and out of the sun.
- Rinse them once or twice per day. This prevents mold formation.
- The sprouts will be ready in 5 days.
- Rinse them (to get rid of the seed peel), pad them dry with a paper towel and store in a glass container for up to 5 days.
It’s that easy! If you have kids, grandkids, or nieces/nephews visiting, get them involved as well. It can become a great science project and furthermore, kids will eat the food they prepare.
Will broccoli sprouts “kill my thyroid”?
No, they will not. It’s a very unfortunate health myth that hurts – not heals. You can read my full explanation of it here.
(Exerpt from Magdalena Wszelaki)