Brussels Sprouts Nutrition

Brussels sprouts are a flavourful vegetable, with plenty of health benefits. They’re closely related to broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale, and share many of the same nutritional benefits. The first written record of Brussels sprouts comes from Belgium, which is how this healthy veggie earned its name. Now the main producers of this cruciferous vegetable are the Netherlands, the U.S., and Canada, though they are also grown in several other countries.

Brussels Sprouts Nutrition

When you were told as a child to eat your greens or you wouldn’t grow up to be big and strong, your parents were on to something. Green vegetables, Brussels sprouts included, are packed with nutrients that help keep you healthy.

For every 100g of Brussels sprouts, there are 85mg of vitamin C, 177µg* of vitamin K, and 389mg of potassium. They’re also a good source of folic acid, flavonoid antioxidants, and contain 3.8g of fiber. Brussels sprouts have 2.1g of sugar, which is low. They only contain 25mg of sodium, which is really low, but many Brussels sprout recipes are loaded with salt or sugar, so be mindful of how you cook them. Also, many nutrients are lost if you boil them so try to steam them instead.

* µg= microgram, therefore there are 1000µg per mg

Benefits Of Brussels Sprouts

The media has done society an unfavourable service by leading us to believe Brussels sprouts taste gross. While flavourful, it’s a similar flavour to broccoli, cabbage, or cauliflower. Brussels sprouts also have many health benefits and are an awesome veggie to have in your diet.

One of the main benefits is they are a good source of vitamin C. Vitamin C gives a major boost to your immune system. It helps your body deal with the strain of stress (physical, mental, or emotional stress). That includes the stress your body is under when you’re sick. Vitamin C also works as an antioxidant, neutralizing the free radicals in your body, which stops them from attacking your body.

Brussels sprouts are a great source of vitamin K (vitamin K1, phylloquinone). Vitamin K1 activates calcium-binding proteins in the liver, which are used in blood clotting.

Brussels Sprouts are great for your dietary tract. They’re a good source of fiber, which is important to have in your diet. Staying regular is your body’s way of flushing toxins from your body. This is another benefit of vitamin C. It helps loosen things up and gets the abdominal toxins out of your body.