Broccoli Information – Superfood

Greetings folks.

Understanding what nutrients do for you, where to get them and how much is useful goes a long way to helping you enjoy your life in a healthy way. Information in this section comes fom many and varied sources and is provided as guide to help you gain an understanding of how supplements and vitamins help you. this is not a replacement for professional advice. Enjoy!

Broccoli

Broccoli is a Super Food. New research suggests that broccoli is especially good for the stomach.

Broccoli and cancer risk

A compound found in broccoli and broccoli sprouts appears to be more effective than modern antibiotics against the bacteria which causes peptic ulcers. Moreover, tests in mice show that the compound offers tremendous protection against stomach cancer – the second most common form of cancer in the worldThe recent study, led by scientists at Johns Hopkins University, is the latest in a series of studies done in the past 10 years on the cancer-fighting potential of broccoli.

Back in 1992, Johns Hopkins University pharmacology professor Paul Talalay and his colleagues showed that sulforaphane – a substance produced by the body from a compound in broccoli – could trigger the production of phase II enzymes. Phase II enzymes can detoxify cancer-causing chemicals and are among the most potent anti-cancer compounds known to man.

In yet another study conducted jointly with US and Chinese researchers , it was found that chemicals present in broccoli, cabbage, bok choy, and other cruciferous vegetables may protect against lung cancer. Researchers studied more than 18,000 men. They recorded 259 cases of lung cancer during the study’s follow-up period. The researchers found that the men with detectable amounts of a substance known as ‘isothiocyanates’ in their bodies had a 36% lower risk of developing lung cancer over a 10-year period.

It should be noted that broccoli sprouts have shown to be every bit as beneficial as full grown brocoli. A different study showed that consumption of broccoli was strongly associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease death in postmenopausal women.

Isothiocyanates are found in broccoli and other so called ‘cruciferous’ vegetables.

Source: www.broccoli.org