The World’s Healthiest Foods provides  information about the health benefits of Brussels Sprouts. This includes nutritional data and how this vegetable can help lower cholesterol, fight cancer, and even positively affect our DNA!

Brussels sprouts are considered a cruciferous vegetable.  These are the dark colored and crunchy veggies that include foods like broccoli. The World’s Healthiest Foods describes Brussels sprouts appearance as “miniature cabbages.”

These little vegetables actually pack a lot of nutrients. In fact, one cup of Brussels sprouts contains 243% of the daily requirement of vitamin K!  It also has 129% of the daily recommended serving of vitamin C.

Key nutrients include:

  • Folate
  • Fiber
  • Manganese
  • Vitamin B6
  • Copper
  • Potassium
  • Omega-3
  • Vitamin B1
  • Choline

One of the health benefits of Brussels sprouts is that it has properties that help lower cholesterol. This is due to the fiber content found in them. When passed through the digestive system,  bile acids  bind with the fiber and exit the body. The World’s Healthiest Foods recommends cutting them in quarters and steaming for six minutes. Steaming has been found to help Brussels sprouts more readily release its nutrients and actually increase its ability to lower cholesterol.

The glucosinolates found in Brussels sprouts, as well as other crunchy veggies, has properties that lower the risk of cancer as well. These glucosinolates are also effective in reducing inflammation and providing valuable antioxidants. In addition, they are useful for those wishing to go through a body detox to flush out toxins.

Another fascinating role of Brussels sprouts? Its effects on human DNA. The World’s Healthiest Foods says that Brussels sprouts can help protect DNA and improve the stability of DNA in white blood cells. These are the cells the body needs to fight off infections.

Want to learn more about the health benefits of Brussels Sprouts? Read the full article here:  “Brussels Sprouts.”