Broccoli is one of the world’s healthiest foods. Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College in London recently reported the green vegetable is a true disease-fighting super food.
A study by a team of researchers found broccoli is an effective treatment for inflamed and painful joints, including osteoarthritis.
Broccoli Contains Sulforaphane To Fight Diseases
Broccoli sprouts contain a concentrated form of phytochemicals called sulforaphane, which helps in fighting a variety of diseases, including autism and cancer.
Dr. Duxin Sun, Collegiate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Michigan, told ABC News sulforaphane is shown to be quite effective in treating and preventing cancer.
Dr. Sun said, “We have shown that it may stop the growth of cancer stem cells to inhibit the growth of oncogenes and may also induce the production of detox enzymes to prevent cancer.”
According to Dr. Sun, practically all animals trials are completed showing the beneficial role of sulforaphane supplements; the compound found in broccoli sprouts. Researchers are gearing up to conduct further studies to see whether the same disease-fighting properties of sulforaphane supplements, also found in broccoli, can be as beneficial for humans.
Sulforaphane Helps In Dramatically Improving Autistic Behavior
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said studies are also looking into sulforaphane’s effect on treating autism, a disorder that affects one in 68 children in the United States.
One of the study’s leading researchers, and a pediatric neurologist with the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Maryland, Dr. Andrew Zimmerman, said that last year a study found a group of autistic boys showed dramatic improvement in behavior after taking sulforaphane supplements.
Dr. Zimmerman added, “Out of the 44 given the compound, 26 were calmer and more socially relatable while receiving the sulforaphane.”
Zimmerman added a word of caution, warning parents not to rush out and buy sulforaphane supplements. Currently, they are unregulated by any governmental agency. In addition, the osteoarthritis study found the compound is not stable enough to become a viable medication.
Maximize The Health Benefits Of Broccoli
As far as consuming broccoli sprouts to gain the super food’s health benefits, the study determined an individual would have to eat 5.5 pounds of broccoli in order to get the same amount contained in a capsule.
However, according to Dr. Sun, consumers could get added protection from cancer by maximizing their cooking methods when using broccoli sprouts.
To get the highest levels of sulforaphane, Dr. Sun suggests steaming broccoli sprouts and then dice them in fresh radish adding, “It’s something I eat, myself, all the time.”