Reach for the greens— good ole brussels sprouts can offer more to your health than you realize! Gather a group of people and ask their opinion on brussels sprouts – the room will almost certainly be divided 50/50. Some people love brussels sprouts and could eat them for every meal. Others can hardly stand the thought of the squishy mini cabbages. While this could purely boil down to differences in taste, it is far more likely that those who dislike the fiber-packed vegetables have never had them prepared correctly. Gone are the days of bland, tasteless vegetables as brussels sprouts are now prepared to a crisp often paired with cranberries and syrups. However, while chefs have learned a fine thing or two about how to prepare brussels sprouts, researchers have also learned the amazing impact brussels sprouts can have on one’s health. These fantastically funny-looking vegetables can lower one’s risk of many diseases, from liver disease to cancer. Research shows that a compound in brussels sprouts may help restrict tumor growth by blocking aggressive enzymes known to advance cancer growth. The enzymes weaken the genes that suppress tumors and keep them from spreading. This compound found in brussels sprouts allows tumor suppressors to continue doing their job. Brussels sprouts also contain a high amount of chlorophyll, the green pigment that occurs in plants. A 2018 study on pancreatic cancer cells suggested that chlorophyll may serve as an antioxidant, acting against some of the compounds responsible for the development of pancreatic cancer. In addition to this new research, there are many older studies proving the positive impact cruciferous vegetables can have on one’s health. Source
