| Q: |
Where can I buy BroccoSprouts? |
| A: |
BroccoSprouts are available in the fresh produce section
of many local area grocery and specialty stores, depending
upon your area of the country.  |
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| Q: |
What if my store doesn't have BroccoSprouts? |
| A: |
Ask the produce manager to get them. He or she can call
us at 1-877-747-1277 and we will direct the produce manager
to the grower in your area. |
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| Q: |
Do I have to wash them? |
| A: |
Although only water and light are used in the growing process
for BroccoSprouts, it is still a good idea to rinse all fresh
produce. Many people find it effective to use a strainer,
some simply rinse and squeeze in a paper towel. |
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| Q: |
How long will BroccoSprouts stay fresh? |
| A: |
If stored sealed and refrigerated, BroccoSprouts have a
shelf life of at least 2 weeks. If you detect an unpleasant
odor upon opening the box, the sprouts should be thrown out.
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| Q: |
Can they be frozen? |
| A: |
Freezing BroccoSprouts will not hurt the antioxidant potential
of the sprouts at all. Unfortunately, when the sprouts are
thawed they become quite mushy and soft. If you plan to use
the sprouts in a soup or other dish where this will not be
a factor, then freezing will be fine. If you desire a fresh,
crunchy sprout, they are best kept in the refrigerator. As
long as the sprouts are kept refrigerated they should stay
fresh for several weeks. |
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| Q: |
Are BroccoSprouts different from other broccoli sprouts? |
| A: |
Yes. Not all broccoli sprouts are alike. Dr. Paul Talalay,
Jed W. Fahey, and their colleagues at Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine have tested more than 50 varieties of broccoli
seeds. Their work shows that some types of broccoli seeds
provide much more sulforaphane. |
| |
| Q: |
Aren't there some food safety risks from eating sprouts? |
| A: |
Brassica has revolutionized the safety standards in the
sprouting industry. Our Pathogen
Reduction and HACCP Program and safety procedures apply to
all BroccoSprouts. Following FDA suggested protocols,
Brassica requires all seed to be washed and cleaned with 20,000
PPM calcium hypochlorite prior to sprouting. Using only water
and light, the plants are grown under special, natural conditions.
They are then tested for sulforaphane GS content. The Brassica
Sprout Group has initiated quality and safety control procedures
for all facilities that grow BroccoSprouts that are, by far,
the most stringent in the industry. |
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| Q: |
Are BroccoSprouts equivalent to adult broccoli? |
| A: |
No. BroccoSprouts are not intended to substitute for a serving
of vegetables; they are intended to supplement the diet. Broccoli
is a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and should
be consumed often, along with a wide variety of fruits and
vegetables. However, BroccoSprouts are guaranteed to provide
a minimum of 20 times as much sulforaphane GS as cooked adult
broccoli. Only BroccoSprouts can make this guarantee.
One ounce of BroccoSprouts broccoli sprouts provides as
much sulforaphane GS (SGS™) as 1 1/4 pounds of market-ready
adult broccoli. Sulforaphane levels vary widely among different
broccoli plants and cannot be detected except through scientific
analysis. Only BroccoSprouts are grown from specially selected
seeds and tested by the Brassica Protection Products laboratories
to ensure that they contain guaranteed minimum levels of
SGS.
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| Q: |
Are BroccoSprouts a substitute for fruits and vegetables? |
| A: |
No. We recommend that everyone consume five to nine servings
a day of vegetables and fruits. A one-ounce serving of BroccoSprouts
contains 15% to 20% of the recommended amount of Vitamin C,
which means that it can count as a serving of vegetable. However,
we highly recommend that you eat as many fruits and vegetables
as possible, including BroccoSprouts. |
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| Q: |
What is sulforaphane glucosinolate? And what does it
do in the body? |
| A: |
Sulforaphane in its natural glucosinolate precursor is a
phytochemical found naturally in some plant foods. Cruciferous
vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower are particularly
abundant in SGS. Scientific research indicates that SGS supports
antioxidant activity in the body. It is a long-lasting antioxidant
that triggers Phase 2 enzymes in the body that help to remove
free radicals and other chemicals that my cause DNA damage.
Unlike Vitamin C, which requires several doses per day, SGS
requires about 3 or 4 doses per week. |
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| Q: |
Does sulforaphane have any relation to sulfa-based drugs? |
| A: |
Sulfa drugs and sulforaphane are quite unrelated and there
is no cross allergy. In fact, there is no known allergy to
sulforaphane. |
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| Q: |
How much sulforaphane GS do BroccoSprouts broccoli sprouts
contain? |
| A: |
A one-ounce serving of BroccoSprouts broccoli sprouts contains
73 milligrams of SGS, the naturally occurring precursor of
sulforaphane. That's about as much SGS as in 1 1/4 pounds
of cooked adult broccoli. |
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| Q: |
How can consumers tell how much sulforaphane GS is in
the broccoli sprouts they buy? |
| A: |
Until now, they couldn't tell. The Brassica Protection Products
seal is the assurance that BroccoSprouts broccoli sprouts
contain scientifically measured minimum levels of SGS. Brassica
Protection Products' exclusive laboratory employs the most
rigorous scientific techniques to test, select, propagate,
develop and certify BroccoSprouts for SGS content. |
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| Q: |
Do broccoli sprouts contain the other things in broccoli
such as fiber, vitamins and calcium? |
| A: |
Yes. One ounce of broccoli sprouts contain 4% of the recommended
daily value of dietary fiber, 15% of the recommended amount
of vitamin C, and 2% of the recommended intake of calcium.
|
| |
| Q: |
What is the nutritional content of BroccoSprouts? |
| A: |
Please see Nutritional
Content of BroccoSprouts for this information. |
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| Q: |
Does heating BroccoSprouts affect their nutritional content? |
| A: |
The sulforaphane GS precursor of sulforaphane is very heat
stable, but cooking in water could extract these compounds.
BroccoSprouts will retain their sulforaphane content if microwaved
or heated without water. You can cook BroccoSprouts in foods
and retain their potency. |
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| Q: |
How much BroccoSprouts broccoli sprouts should you consume? |
| A: |
A serving size is one ounce, about 1/2 cup. Because the
antioxidant properties in BroccoSprouts are long lasting,
we recommend one serving every other day. |
| |
| Q: |
Can a person accumulate toxic levels of SGS by eating
the broccoli sprouts? |
| A: |
Analysis has shown no danger of toxicity. |
| |
| Q: |
What scientific evidence shows that sulforaphane supports
antioxidant function in the body? |
| A: |
Sulforaphane activates the enzymes in the body that detoxify
reactive forms of oxygen. For more information, please visit
http://www.brassica.com/. |
| |
| Q: |
Are BroccoSprouts different from other broccoli sprouts? |
| A: |
Yes. Not all broccoli sprouts are alike. Dr. Paul Talalay
and his colleagues at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
have tested more than 50 varieties of broccoli seeds. Their
work shows that some types of broccoli seeds provide much
more sulforaphane GS than others. Only BroccoSprouts are grown
from these special seeds, which are tested by Brassica Protection
Products and grown under conditions to ensure they contain
certified levels of sulforaphane GS. |
| |
| Q: |
What is the status of sulforaphane research? |
| A: |
Studies on sulforaphane have been very promising, but we
do not have enough information to fully support any understanding
of its effects on humans. Research is ongoing at this time.
|
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| Q: |
Where can I get more information about BroccoSprouts
and sulforaphane? |
| A: |
Call 1-877-747-1277, or visit http://www.brassica.com/. |
| |
| Q: |
What does it mean that BroccoSprouts are patented? |
| A: |
The United States Patent Office issued patents to Johns
Hopkins University for the discovery of the high levels of
glucosinolates in broccoli sprouts, which was a totally novel
discovery. Brassica Protection Products has an exclusive worldwide
license from Johns Hopkins to market this discovery. |
| |
| Q: |
Can other people grow broccoli sprouts?
How can I grow my own BroccoSprouts? |
| A: |
No one else has a license for this patented technology from
Johns Hopkins University to grow the broccoli sprouts commercially.
You can, however, purchase the seeds and home sprouting kits
from Caudill Seed Company for growing
sprouts for personal use only. (800)-626-5357. |
| |
| Q: |
What does it mean that "a portion of the proceeds from
the sale of this product is donated to The Brassica Foundation
for biomedical research on vegetables? |
| A: |
Because of our commitment to ongoing research into the healthful
benefits of plants, the Brassica Foundation for Chemoprotection
Research was founded to further research on risk reduction
of disease, with an emphasis on dietary approaches. |
| |
| Q: |
What is Brassica Protection Products LLC and how can
I contact them? |
| A: |
Brassica Protection Products LLC was created to ensure that
products made from plants that provide sulforaphane and other
phytochemicals are developed and made available to the public
under rigorous and standardized scientific conditions, and
with the highest standards of food safety. Brassica Protection
Products is located in Baltimore, Maryland. Its phone number
is 410-837-9244 or toll-free at 1-877-747-1277. You can also
learn more about BPP at http://www.brassica.com/. |
| |
| Q: |
Are many varieties of broccoli sprouts rich in sulforaphane
GS? |
| A: |
No. Dr. Paul Talalay and his colleagues at the Brassica
Chemoprotection Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University have
tested over 50 of the 80 varieties of broccoli currently available
and their work shows that only a few produce sprouts with
high concentrations of sulforaphane GS. |
| |
| Q: |
What do BroccoSprouts® taste like? |
| A: |
They are delicious. They do not taste like broccoli; they
taste like radishes with a little spicy bite that comes from
the release of the sulforaphane GS when you bite into them.
|
| |
| Q: |
Doesn't broccoli also contain sulforaphane GS? |
| A: |
Research by Dr. Talalay has demonstrated that broccoli sprouts
contain 20 to 50 times more sulforaphane GS than full-grown
broccoli. A few ounces of BroccoSprouts delivers equal or
greater levels of sulforaphane GS as several pounds of broccoli.
Moreover, SGS levels in broccoli sprouts generally are more
uniform. SGS levels vary widely among different broccoli plants
and cannot be detected except through scientific analysis.
|
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| Q: |
Are other sprouts just as good? |
| A: |
Other sprouts do not contain significant levels of sulforaphane
GS. |
| |
| Q: |
Are BroccoSprouts genetically engineered? |
| A: |
NO. BroccoSprouts are completely natural. The scientists
at Johns Hopkins spent years culling the varieties of broccoli
seed that had the highest sulforaphane GS content. Only those
varieties of seeds are cultivated for BroccoSprouts. |
| |
| Q: |
How long can I keep / store BroccoSprouts. What is the
shelf life? |
| A: |
BroccoSprouts should be stored in the refrigerator at all
times. If they are properly refrigerated, they should be good
for at least one to two weeks after the "sell-by" date marked
on the label. Occasionally, products do get warmed up in the
distribution from our producers to the warehouse to the store.
The store should not put them on the shelf if this happens,
but if the sprouts look mushy or smell bad you should return
them to the store.
If the sprouts get very wet, they will deteriorate faster
so extra moisture may lessen the shelf life (they are spun-dry
when they are grown).
We have extensively tested the SGS content of sprouts and
the potency does not decline over three or four weeks. The
compound is very stable.
|
| |
| Q: |
What does the "sell-by" date mean? What is the shelf
life? |
| A: |
After being grown, washed and tested, BroccoSprouts are
put in the grower's cooler to ensure they are cool and fresh
when they are shipped. The date on the package is two weeks
after the date they are produced. The product should remain
fresh in your refrigerator for at least one to two weeks following
the sell-by date provided that it is kept properly refrigerated.
(See how long can I store BroccoSprouts)
If the sprouts get very wet, they will deteriorate faster
so extra moisture may lessen the shelf life (they are spun-dry
when they are grown).
We have extensively tested the SGS content of sprouts and
the potency does not decline over three or four weeks. The
compound is very stable.
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