For many people, Christmas dinner is not complete without a side helping of Brussels sprouts. Indeed, they are Britain's favorite Christmas dinner vegetable. But if you're not a convert, perhaps these health benefits will convince you to give them a second chance.
Sprouts belong to the wholesome family of cruciferous or brassica vegetables, including cabbage, kale and broccoli. As with all brassica, Brussels sprouts are packed with fiber, which is good for keeping the beneficial bacteria in your gut happy.
They also provide essential minerals, such as potassium and calcium, to keep your muscle and bones healthy. They are rich in vitamins K and C, supporting a healthy immune system and bones.
Pound for pound, you'll get more vitamin C from them when eaten raw than from oranges. Cooked Brussels sprouts still contain vitamin C, though – about the same pound for pound as you'd get from orange juice and raw oranges.
The bitter, the better
Most importantly, Brussels sprouts are rich in a wide range of natural chemicals, such as carotenoids and polyphenols, that have been linked to good health. They are particularly abundant in sulfur-containing compounds called glucosinolates.
Think back to when you last cooked Brussels sprouts, cabbage or cauliflower. Have you stopped and wondered what that pungent smell is? That is the sulfur compounds in the sprouts being broken down. They are also what gives Brussels sprouts that characteristic bitter taste. So to get your fill of these beneficial chemicals, the bitter, the better.
So you may wonder why these chemicals are so special. Several scientific studies have shown that these sulfurous compounds are potent antioxidants that can promote health by preventing cell damage.
Several studies have also shown that consuming more of these glucosinolates from cruciferous vegetables, including Brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale and cabbage, are associated with a reduced risk of developing a wide range of cancers. Research continues collecting more evidence of their benefits, but the best advice to keep in mind is to try to consume roughly five portions of brassica vegetables weekly and to vary the options.
The bitter sulfurous compounds are part of a Brussels sprouts' sophisticated defense system, known as the mustard oil bomb, that repels insects from biting them but attracts those insects that allow pollination.
And because plants are clever, about 200 different glucosinolates exist in brassica vegetables, and each of these vegetables has different combinations, giving them their characteristic flavor. This is why the following vegetables, which belong to the brassica family, have different tastes: broccoli, cabbage, kale, swede, wasabi, horseradish, turnip, rocket, watercress, cauliflower and mustard.
How to cook them
For convenience, Brussels sprouts are often boiled. But if you boil them for too long, not only will they lose their nutritional value (some of the glucosinolates will be destroyed by heat and lost into the water), but it will also give sprouts an unpleasant smell and taste.
So what are the other options?
You could simply fry sprouts in a pan with some olive oil or butter and a smidgen of garlic and herbs. An alternative would be to steam them or microwave them. But make sure they keep their crunch.
Or why not try being adventurous and trying something new by having them raw, cut into small pieces, and adding sprouts to a salad?
Next time you pass along the supermarket's fruit and vegetable section, don't forget to give Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage a try. Brassicas like Brussels sprouts are for life — not just for Christmas.
Federico Bernuzzi, Research Scientist, Quadram Institute and Maria Traka, Research Leader, Personalised Nutrition and Gut Microbiome, Quadram Institute
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
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