Read any food literature and they will tell you that broccoli is a super food. If you’re wondering why, then let’s talk about the reasons:
They may be used in cancer therapy.
According to a research conducted by a team from Oregon State University, a cancer-fighting compound in broccoli called sulforaphane may not only prevent cancer but may also improve the effectiveness of cancer therapy, especially among prostate cancer patients. The compound can trigger the death of prostate cancer cells and thus delay the disease’s progression. This then enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of chemotherapy.
While the research suggests that patients need more than the amount normally consumed when eating broccoli, they may obtain enough sulforaphane by consuming them as a supplement.
They can detoxify the body, especially those caused by air pollutants.
Air pollution has become a chronic and pervasive problem in many parts of the world, including China. However, a study suggests that consuming broccoli sprouts can significantly detoxify the body and remove the irritants that may have come from air pollution.
This study was performed by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In the clinical trial that went on for 12 weeks, 291 Chinese men and women living in the most polluted areas of the country. One group drank a beverage with freeze-dried broccoli sprout powder while the others had juices from lime and pineapple. Those who consumed the broccoli powder excreted benzene, a carcinogen, by as much as 60% than those that who didn’t. They also expelled acrolein, an irritant, by about 23%.
They may decrease the defects of progeria.
Progeria is a rare disease characterized by rapid aging of the body. Many of the patients don’t get to live past 30 years old. It still has no known cure, but compounds in broccoli may decrease the protein defect called progerin and slow down the progression. The study of Technische Universitaet Muenchen involved introducing sulforaphane to prevent the accumulation of progerin in the cells.
You don’t need much to obtain all the anti-cancer benefits of broccoli.
It’s unclear how much broccoli you need to eat in order to obtain the benefits of broccoli. Some recommend eating only a half cup a day. Others mention 2 cups twice a week. There are also others who believe that you need to consume at least 250 grams of the vegetable or roughly 1.6 cups per day. Either way, you can easily incorporate this into your diet.
Source: WHFoods.com
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