You do not have to tell me twice to eat my Brussels sprouts. Brussels sprouts are one of my favorite vegetables. While my husband and son are not so fond of them, my girls and I love them. They are like mini cabbages that hold in flavor beautifully. I simply sauté them in butter or olive oil with garlic, salt and pepper. Sometimes I add a little lemon but mostly I just make them simple. I serve them with any main dish. However, I have been known to eat them like a snack. We prefer fresh over frozen. The frozen tend to cook more like boiled cabbage and we prefer a slight crunch and the beautiful green color.
Here are more reasons to love Brussels sprouts:
No cholesterol, only 45 calories a serving (100g) and 3.8 g of fiber. This makes it a great vegetable to add into your diet for reducing weight.
Protect against prostate, colon, and endometrial cancers.
Excellent source of vitamin C and contain vitamin A and E along with antioxidants.
Offers protection against lung and oral cancer.
A rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese and phosphorus.
Zeaxanthin is an important carotenoid in sprouts that helps prevent retinal damage and age related macular degeneration disease.
Studies show that sinigrin helps destroy pre-cancerous cells that cause colon cancer. Sinigrin is found in Brussels sprouts.
Excellent source of vitamin K. Vitamin K helps with bone health by strengthening the bones. Having adequate levels of vitamin K helps reduce neuronal damage in the brain which can help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
A great source for B-complex vitamins such as niacin and vitamin B-6.
As you can see there are many reasons to love Brussels sprouts. With all these health benefits and low calorie content they deserve second glance if you cringe at the thought of eating them. If you already enjoy Brussels sprouts then make sure to add them into your diet on a regular basis.