Detoxing with Broccoli Sprouts

This title statement may have sounded unsubstantiated 20 years ago but now science, and as many as 1000 studies are proving the powerful healing properties of these Broccoli sprouts. In general sprouts are known to heal the body because of their multiple nutritious value as well as their lower fiber content which makes them easy to digest, and a perfect food to heal our body. Sprouts have been used for decades in integrated health programs as a central diet for chronic diseases including cancer because of its potency.

Sprouts therapy have been use for many years

For example, during a typical healing program in integrated wellness centers Such as Hippocrates in West palm Beach Florida, a variation of fresh sprouted seeds are served twice a day, making a total of 90% of the daily consumption. Dr. Ann Wigmore was one of the pioneers in using sprouts to help cancer patients heal from what was believed to be incurable. Another well known integrated therapy invented by Dr. Max Gerson was developed in the 1920’s based on our natural ability to heal when given the opportunity to eliminate toxins and to replenish the body with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. It includes up to 13 glasses of fresh vegetable juices, greens, sprouts and colonic therapy. The sprouts are the superfood among the vegetables because they have chemicals that can fight cancer and help our immune system.

Potency of sprouts

Alfalfa: High in antioxidants, vitamin K and vitamin C and combat cholesterol
Broccoli: Support strong bones, detoxify the body, improve respiratory function, detox liver, prevent diabetes 2
Clover: Help in weight loss, prevent anemia, detoxify the body
Green Lentil: High in protein, dietary fiber, vitamin C, zinc and copper
Mung Bean: High in protein, dietary fiber and nutrients including copper, C & B vitamins
Radish: Excellent source of folate, aids in weight loss and high in vitamin C
Sunflower: High in protein, natural expectorant, high in zinc & B vitamins
Pea: High in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, weight loss and protect against diabetes
Microgreens: High in nutrients, improve heart health and overall wellbeing

The green vegetables and sprouts have a powerful binding agent to oxygen and when oxygen is present in the cells, it becomes alkaline, and cancer cells cannot survive in this ph environment. Naturally, sprouts make good alkalizing foods and when adding them to the diet one can feel rejuvenated and full of energy.

Because sprouts are baby plants in their prime, and at this stage they have a greater concentration of proteins, vitamins and minerals, enzymes, RNA, DNA, bioflavonoids, than at any other point in the plant’s life, they release nourishment rich with enzymes which make them easy to digest even for those with weak digestion.

Anti – Cancer Phytochemicals in your fridge

Dr. Jed Fahey is A nutritional biochemist with broad training and extensive background in plant physiology, human nutrition and phytochemistry. He has researched the healing power of sprouts for the past 30 yrs at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, especially Broccoli sprouts. He advocates eating broccoli sprouts daily for prevention and for anti aging. He explains that unlike vitamins that spike in the blood and shortly thereafter drop to normal levels, the levels of these particular enzymes stay active for weeks. The substance sulforaphan becomes bioavailable when we chew the sprouts and will benefit the entire digestive system. it increases the quality of life and becomes active while we take the first bite. It is also active and protective in the stomach , against helicobacter which may be dangerous and create later stomach cancer.

The “Green chemoprevention.”

The secret to the health benefits of this remarkable food lies in the bioactive compound sulforaphane, which is generated in high concentrations when broccoli sprouts are consumed. The sulforaphane shows promise as a therapeutic agent against a wide range of diseases including autism, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

More research from Harvard medical school 2019 has linked a compound found in Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and other cruciferous vegetables to one of the body’s most potent tumor-suppressing genes. The PTEN-protecting compound, I3C occurs naturally in the cruciferous vegetables that include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, arugula, cabbage, kale, and cauliflower. That group has been investigated in the past for its cancer-fighting properties, according to the National Cancer Institute, with promising results in animal studies, but mixed results in humans.

Sulforaphane in broccoli: The green chemoprevention!! Role in cancer prevention and therapy

Presently, there is growing evidence that a phytochemical sulforaphane in these green leafy vegetables is found to be effective in preventing and treating various cancers such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, skin, urinary bladder and oral cancers. This component is naturally present in the broccoli sprouts, kale, cabbage, cauliflower and garden cress and is available as a commercial supplementary pill called Broccoli extract.

Availability of many bioactive substances such as vitamins, polyphenols, sulfides, glucosinolates and antioxidants makes broccoli consumption important in daily diet regularly.

Researchers have named it as “Green chemoprevention.” It is easily affordable and more cost-effective than the traditional chemopreventive drugs. Results from the epidemiological and experimental studies have emphasized the role of sulforaphane as a complementary or alternative chemopreventive agent.

Benefits of Broccoli sprouts

Here are some of the science-backed benefits of broccoli sprouts.

Detox your body: Sulforaphane activates enzymes to help your liver counteract and eliminate potential cancer-causing effects of toxins from food and the environment. Studies have even shown that consuming broccoli sprouts leads to a higher excretion rate of benzene and acrolein, two toxic chemicals that can have a negative impact on health. This process supports detoxification, and can greatly improve overall health.
Cancer prevention: The high content of sulforaphane has proven to be an extremely powerful anti-cancer compound. Studies have shown that these anti-cancer properties are due to sulforaphane promoting cancer cell apoptosis, which reduces inflammation, lowers susceptibility to cancer-causing substances, and inhibits angiogenesis .
Improves brain and mental health: Research shows that sulforaphane can protect against and improve symptoms of some brain conditions including stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and even autism spectrum disorders . Moreover, sulforaphane can decrease brain cell death and reduce the amount of brain tissue lost in strokes, protect dopamine producing cells from oxidative stress, and protect brain cells from beta-amyloid toxicity in Alzheimer’s .
Better immune response: Due to the high concentration of vitamin C and other antioxidants (like sulforaphane), broccoli sprouts provide immunity and virus protection benefits. Additionally, these antioxidants have been shown to protect against oxidative stress, support cellular functions of the innate and adaptive immune system, as well as lowering susceptibility to infections.
Promotes gut health: Evidence shows that sulforaphane can improve the function of intestinal cells, modify the friendly bacteria in your gut, and positively impact bowel movements . Sulforaphane has also been shown to reduce infections as well as gastric inflammation, both of which can negatively affect gut health .

New research shows broccoli sprouts offer pollution protection. Broccoli sprouts contain a compound called glucoraphanin that can help protect you from air-pollution hazards—but it gets lost when broccoli is cooked. Participants in a polluted region of China who drank a half-cup of juice containing broccoli-sprout powder daily for 12 weeks excreted 61 percent more benzene, a carcinogen, and 23 percent more acrolein, a lung irritant, in their urine, according to a study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. . “Glucoraphanin works to elevate enzyme levels in the liver and other tissues that increase the detoxification rate for environmental pollutants that we inhale or ingest,” says study author Thomas W. Kensler, PhD. “This leads to faster excretion of these toxins, reducing the likelihood that they will cause harm.”

Final note

Whether you buy broccoli sprouts at the store, or grow your own with a stainless steel sprouter, you can detox your body and improve health just by adding more of them into your diet. Grab a handful for a snack, toss on top of a salad, or even add a pinch to soup.

You don’t have to be vegan to eat broccoli sprouts. I suggest you buy organic sprouts from the health store if you don’t sprout them yourself. Try to eat 50% of your veggies in the form of sprouts, and if you are on a detox journey then stick to the broccoli sprouts not just as a diet but also as your daily medicine.

You can put your broccoli sprouts in a smoothie with fruits, which is a clever way to consume large amounts of it in one cup. Juicing is another option, after all you need to eat a large amount of this superfood to get the full benefits.