This Surprising Nutrient Is Better for Detoxification and Gut Health Than Supplements

theeverygirl.com:

green powders, you get it: eat your greens. But do you actually know why? Well, a little-known nutrient called sulforaphane is found specifically in cruciferous vegetables (think: some dark leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage).With its long list of benefits and superfood-like benefits, you’ve got yourself the next best thing to a cure-all.

The next time you need a helping hand to detox after a vacation or relieve some digestive drama, consider noshing on some sulforaphane-rich veggies (food is medicine, folks!).

To learn more about the super nutrient, I asked experts to give us the lowdown on sulforaphane, how it benefits our health, and how we can get the most out of it in our diets. “Sulforaphane is a natural compound that belongs to a class of chemicals called isothiocyanates, which are derived from glucosinolates found in certain cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower,” explained Mary Sabat, MS, RDN, LD, a nutritionist, and ACE-certified trainer. “Sulforaphane is formed when these vegetables are chopped, chewed, or otherwise damaged, which triggers an enzymatic reaction that converts glucoraphanin (a glucosinolate) into sulforaphane.” While all cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolates, broccoli sprouts are one of the richest sources; in fact, they pack in 10-100 times higher levels of glucoraphanin than their counterparts (stay tuned for how to incorporate the mighty plant into your diet). “Sulforaphane acts as an indirect antioxidant by promoting the body’s own antioxidant defense mechanisms,” said Sam Schleiger, MS, RDN, CD, CLT, IFNCP, a functional medicine registered dietitian, and Owner of Simply Nourished Functional Nutrition. “It.