Love them or loathe them, there's no denying that Brussels Sprouts are an incredibly healthy addition to any plate. At balance, we're determined to get them on the dinner plates of Great Britain in less than two weeks' time, and also controversially, on days other than Christmas Day!
So why do we want to 'shout about the sprout'? There are so many reasons!
Image courtesy of -Marcus- at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
1) They may prevent against cancer.
Sprouts contain Glucosinolates, organic compounds containing sulphur and nitrogen which may offer protection against carcinogens, those substances that cause cancers. It appears they may be particularly effective in protecting the organs in the body but more research is being carried out to find out why. All of the Brassica vegetables, broccoli, cabbage and sprouts convey these benefits so be kind to the sprout and don't leave it out.
2) They lower cholesterol.
Because they are high in fibre they are an excellent foodstuff for controlling cholesterol levels in the body. Given that Christmas tends to bring with it a lot of substances that do the opposite like alcohol, cake, milk chocolate etc, the sprout is definitely worth adding to those Christmas dinners.
3) They're anti-inflammatory.
Sprouts contain Omega-3 and other specialist Glucosinolates that help decrease inflammation in the blood vessels, whilst other research has shown that they may even protect our DNA from damage. All this means in the long-run they may form part of a great team of foods that'll help you to enjoy even more Christmas dinners!
4) Special K.
Sprouts are rich in Vitamin K which has numerous important roles in the body, helping blood to clot properly when required, looking after bones and acting as a strong antioxidant.
5) They taste great!
If you're not a fan of the sprout on his own, then get inventive this Christmas. Steam enough sprouts for a handful per person, chop them finely and add them into a pan with your choice of chopped walnuts, roast chestnuts, cubed pancetta or bacon, and even grapes or slices of satsuma orange. Cook in a little bit of butter or duck fat to get the pancetta nice and crispy and then serve with your Christmas dinner and for the rest of the winter.
Hopefully we've persuaded you that this little green fellow is worth adding to your shopping basket, so we'd politely ask you to:
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