Health Hotline Magazine | November 2026

ORGANIC PRODUCE HEADQUARTERS ®

Brussels sprouts are one of those vegetables some parents had to bribe their kids to eat. No matter how cute these mini cabbages are, they would only be eaten with the promise of ice cream, or if you were lucky, a dollar. But as we the bribed grew older, wiser, and our palates more sophisticated, we came to appreciate not only the wealth of nutrients that is the Brussels sprout, but also its bold and unique flavor. So, here’s to changing our minds, and to appreciating all the goodness Brussels sprouts have to offer. By Morgaine Lee Flavors of Good Health Love it or hate it, Brussels sprouts get their distinctive flavor from their health-supporting compounds. Think of some of your favorite bitter foods, dark chocolate perhaps? Or maybe red wine, leafy greens, or cruciferous veggies like Brussels sprouts. Their bitterness comes from compounds like polyphenols and glucosinolates, and the signature earthy flavor of Brussels sprouts comes from sulforaphane, a sulfur-rich antioxidant unique to cruciferous veggies. In the body, these compounds act as antioxidants, are anti-inflammatory, and support whole-body health. Pesticides You Can’t Wash Off Everything we put into our bodies has an impact on our health, as well as the health of the planet. Brussels sprouts are no exception. Conventional Brussels sprouts are treated with a number of pesticides, including systemic ones like the fungicide metalaxyl. Typically, this type of pesticide is applied to seeds before planting, but as they grow, crops take up the pesticides in their roots and it becomes systemic, moving into all the parts of the plant, and thus, cannot be washed off or peeled away. Pesticides like metalaxyl and others used in conventional Brussels sprouts not only remain in the produce, but also remain in the environment, where they harm soil and waterway ecosystems. Soil Health is Human Health Human health and the health of our environment are inextricable. The proof is in the pudding, or in this case, the proof is in the Brussels sprouts! Studies show that organic produce is higher in beneficial nutrients like antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals. Organic Brussels, for instance, have higher levels of zinc and iron compared to conventionally grown ones. It all starts with healthy soil, rich in nutrients, and teeming with microorganisms. Organic soil not only produces healthier food, but is also able to sequester more carbon than soil treated with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Choosing organic Brussels sprouts is an easy way to support your own health, the health of the environment, and the farmers doing the work of tending the soil that is essential to good health for all. Go ahead, pass the organic Brussels sprouts—we’ll have them this time, no bribe necessary! For references, please visit: naturalgrocers.com/issue-112 BRUSSELS SPR UTS FOR THE LOVE OF ORGANICS:

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