Sulforaphane is reason we use broccoli microgreens.

Why sulforaphane?

Sulforaphane is a naturally occurring plant compound most strongly associated with broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli microgreens and young broccoli plants are particularly interesting because they contain high levels of glucoraphanin, the precursor the plant uses to produce sulforaphane. Sulforaphane has attracted a lot of scientific attention because of the way it interacts with the body’s own protective systems. Research has focused particularly on its ability to activate the Nrf2 pathway, which regulates genes involved in antioxidant defence, cellular protection and the body’s natural detoxification processes. Rather than simply acting as another antioxidant itself, sulforaphane can help switch on some of the systems our cells already use to protect themselves. This is one of the main reasons broccoli microgreens are a hero ingredient in The Green Ninja. We’re not just looking for something green to put in a bottle. We deliberately grow broccoli microgreens because of the unique compounds they contain and the nutritional value they can contribute to a concentrated microgreen juice. There is an important detail, though: broccoli doesn’t simply contain a fixed amount of ready-made sulforaphane. Sulforaphane is formed when glucoraphanin comes into contact with an enzyme called myrosinase, which happens when the plant tissue is chopped, chewed or crushed. That makes the way broccoli is handled and processed particularly interesting — and it’s one of the reasons we focus on freshly harvested microgreens and minimal processing rather than trying to manufacture a long-life green drink. Sulforaphane isn’t a miracle ingredient, and The Green Ninja isn’t intended to replace vegetables or a balanced diet. It is, however, one of the fascinating compounds found naturally in broccoli and a major reason we believe broccoli microgreens deserve a place in a nutrient-dense daily green shot.