Broccoli Sprouts

Broccoli sprouts are seeds that have germinated and become very young plants, just a couple of days old. The end product is generally a sprout measuring 1/8–2 inches. (1) Scientists at Johns Hopkins University discovered that sulforaphane, a compound derived from broccoli, induces a host of cellular enzymes that protect our bodies from a wide range of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's disease. They soon learned that sulforaphane is an artifact of isolation – the byproduct of a chemical reaction between an enzyme called myrosinase and a precursor molecule called glucoraphanin. (2) Most of the health benefits of broccoli sprouts come from their high level of glucoraphanin. Your body converts this compound into sulforaphane, which protects your cells against inflammation and a wide variety of diseases. Broccoli-based glucoraphanin/sulforaphane-rich preparations have been shown to accelerate the detoxication and excretion of potentially carcinogenetic food contaminants and air pollutants, offering a very attractive strategy for population-wide reduction in cancer risk due to unavoidable exposures to pollution. (3)

The article I found entitled Broccoli sprouts juice prevents lens protein aggregation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat was reporting on the effect of broccoli sprouts juice in preventing lens protein aggregation in a diabetic rat model. Rats were divided into a negative control group, a diabetic group without juice treatment as a positive control, and the diabetic group was given broccoli sprouts juice 0.25, 0.5, and 1 g/d for 28d. The diabetic rat model was obtained by administering a single dose of streptozotocin 65 mg/kg intraperitoneal. At the end of the study, all rats were examined for fasting blood sugar level, visual cataract score, and lens αB-crystallin expression. In conclusion, the broccoli sprout juice has a significant effect in preventing lens protein aggregation in a diabetic rat model. The higher dose gives better visual cataract scores, lower lens aggregated αB-crystallin expression, and higher lens native αB-crystallin expression. (4)

Sprouts can be eaten in a variety of ways and are easily incorporated into a variety of dishes. For instance, you can eat them raw in a sandwich or tossed them into a salad. Broccoli sprouts are fun, affordable, and easy to grow! I have linked some directions that give the specifics of how to sprout your own! https://www.cleaneatingkitchen.com/how-to-grow-broccoli-sprouts/

---

References:

1. Petre A. Raw Sprouts: Benefits and Potential Risks. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/raw-sprouts. Published 2018. Accessed 2021. a

2. How to Grow Broccoli Sprouts. FoundMyFitness. https://www.foundmyfitness.com/episodes/how-to-grow-broccoli-sprouts. Accessed February 18, 2021.

3. Yagishita Y, Fahey JW, Dinkova-Kostova AT, Kensler TW. Broccoli or Sulforaphane: Is It the Source or Dose That Matters?. Molecules. 2019;24(19):3593. Published 2019 Oct 6. doi:10.3390/molecules24193593

4. Puspitasari A, Handayani N. Broccoli sprouts juice prevents lens protein aggregation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat. Int J Ophthalmol. 2019;12(9):1380-1385. Published 2019 Sep 18. doi:10.18240/ijo.2019.09.02