Here is another motivation to eat our broccoli!

Our immune system declines as we get older. Our body gradually loses the capacity to fight infections and other diseases. But eating broccoli might just give our failing immune system a boost.

Researchers from UCLA have found that sulforaphane, a chemical abundant in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables may play a key role in boosting the body’s age-related immunity problems.

Sulforane induces the body to produce antioxidants that attacks free radicals which damage cells and lead to disease. Free radicals are by-products of normal body processes but they can cause tissue and organ damage, damage which can in turn cause diseases and aging.

So far, the study has been performed in mice, but other studies are already ongoing to see how the results can be translated to human use. Indeed, this indicates a window of opportunity in slowing down the aging process and the health problems ? from cardiovascular disease to degenerative joint diseases, from Alzheimer`s to diabetes to osteoporosis ? that comes with it.

The best thing about it is the fact that this antioxidant is all-natural and is avalaible from the vegetables that we can eat everyday. This avoids possible health problems unnatural antioxidant supplements might cause.

This is not the first health benefits associated with cruciferous veggies. Previous studies have reported on broccoli`s potential healing powers against bladder cancer. It is also a rich source of folate, a vitamin which help prevent health defects.

Source:

ScienceDaily (Mar. 10, 2008)

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 6 March 2008

Vegetable lovers would be happy to hear that their favorite broccoli can protect them from bladder cancer.

According to Dr. Yuesheng Zhang, professor of oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli can reduce the risk of bladder cancer in humans. This claim is based on their study using laboratory animals. The rats were given different doses of broccoli sprouts extracts then given a chemical that can induce cancer. The number of animals who developed cancer is lesser among those who were given high doses of broccoli sprouts extracts compared those with lesser dosage and those without broccoli extracts.

Apparently, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli contain a phytochemical called isothyiocyanates (ITCs) which can prevent cancer. Mature broccoli, cabbage, kale, collard greens and other cruciferous vegetables also contain ITCs but broccoli sprouts have approximately 30 times more ITCs than mature broccoli.

Although, the dosage of broccoli extracts used in the experiment is very high, Zhang said humans do not need to eat huge amounts of broccoli sprouts in order to get its protective benefits. Previous research have already shown that eating cruciferous vegetable may reduce the risk of bladder cancer in humans, thus, it is possible that lower dosage of ITC may be enough to prevent bladder cancer.

The study was funded by the Vital Vegetables Research Program of Australia and New Zealand, the National Cancer Institute and the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation.

Sources:

American Association for Cancer Research, 28 Feb 2008

Munday et al. Cancer Research, 29 Feb 2008