Did you know that you can get the benefits of sulforaphane without having to eat raw broccoli sprouts? In fact, the extract can be easier, more convenient and have a longer shelf life.
First of all, broccoli sprout extract comes in capsules and tablets or as a freeze-dried powder, which you can mix with food or drinks.
In addition, some specialty skin care and hair care products contain broccoli seed oil. You can also buy pure broccoli seed oil and mix it with your own personal care products. Not to mention, use it in lip balm or as a massage oil.
Broccoli sprout extract make it super convenient to get your sulforaphane without having to eat a handful of sprouts. That said, it’s important to note the discrepancy of nutritional content between the two. The video below from Dr Michael Greger, MD of NutritionFacts.org explains how.
Even though supplements have shown to deliver significantly less active nutrients than their freshly harvested counterpart, they do provide some nutritional content. This is better than nothing and may be an acceptable alternative for those who travel or aren’t able to grow their own.
Where to Buy Broccoli Sprout Capsules:
Broccoli sprout capsules are essentially broccoli (Brassica oleracea) sprout extract in the form of easy to swallow capsules.
The sprouts are 3-5 day old broccoli plants and are known for the high amount of phytochemicals that they contain. Whereas mature broccoli plants have a higher amount of vitamins and minerals than the sprouts, the young sprouts contain high levels of sulforaphane and glucosinolates.
The capsule form is a convenient alternative to growing your own sprouts, easting a daily dose of fresh broccoli sprouts or consuming broccoli at each meal. Read labels when purchasing packaged supplements, since products vary by ingredients, product processing, serving amount and of course cost.
Some features to look for:
- Contains sulforaphane glucosinolate
- Vege-caps, gluten-free or capsules that contain no fillers
- Freeze drying vs heat processing or extracted without solvents