Sulforaphane and the Health Benefits of Broccoli
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How Sulfaphane protects the lining of Arteries
One of the most serious consequences of the average Western diet is the furring of arteries as fats are deposited on the lining. When blood flow is reduced in the arteries that supply the heart, the risks of angina or even heart attack increase hugely. Furred arteries in the brain mean an increased risk of stroke. Elsewhere in the body, poor circulation can mean the loss of a limb in an acute case.
Doctors have long known that eating green vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower or cabbage protects against heart disease. Recently scientists have started to understand what chemicals are involved.
Recent studies have shown that a chemical called Sulforaphane is responsible for triggering proteins in the body that prevent furring of arteries. This chemical is produced naturally by many kinds of green vegetables if they are damaged- especially during harvesting and eating.
Some already proven properties of Sulforaphane.
• Reduces DNA mutation
• Slows down the increase of neoplastic cells
• Increases apoptosis in cancer cells
• Helps prevent benign tumors becoming malignant
• Prevents metastasis- the spread of cancer
• Reduces the growth of blood vessels which supply tumors with food and oxygen
• Boosts the immune system
A Genuine Wonder Drug?
Sulforaphane has already attracted the attention of the medical world because it has known anti-cancer, antimicrobial and anti-diabetic qualities. It has also been shown to be a powerful antioxidant reducing amongst other things, the damage to cells in the retina of the eye that come about with ageing, so giving better vision for longer. With the recent arterial studies Sulforaphane is well on the way to becoming known as a wonder drug.
Scientists are now trying to confirm their suspicion that using Sulforaphane can actually reverse the process of arterial furring. If this can be demonstrated scientifically, sulforaphane will become one of the most widely used preventative medicines in the world.
Controlling a Nasty Stomach Bug
One extra benefit of using sulforphane is that it reduces the levels of a bug called H. pylori in the gut. This is known to be a common cause of stomach ulcers. Like many discoveries surrounding Sulforphane this has only come to light recently but researchers at John Hopkins University believe controlling H.pylori might reduce the risk of stomach cancer which is associated with H.pilori
How to Include Sulforaphane in Your Diet.
The richest natural source of this chemical is from young sprouts of broccoli. If you are lucky enough to have these growing in your backyard you can now be sure that they are good for you as well as delicious.
Studies of the concentrations of sulforaphane in other green vegetables are underway but both cauliflower and cabbage are known to contain at least some level of the important food.
Sulforaphane Extracts
If you are not lucky enough to have easy access to young broccoli or want protection year round there are broccoli extracts available from various suppliers online and at health food stores. Many of these products are from a company set up by researchers at John Hopkins University and some of the profits go into funding further research.
The recommended dosage is around 200-400 micrograms per day. No side effects have ever been observed with this natural food product but people wth serious medical conditions might want to consult a doctor before using them.
Online supplier- http://sulforaphane.org/
The Studies
If you want to look through some of the scientific studies that produced these remarkable conclusions on the benefit of Sulforaphane, you could try the links below,
"Baby broccoli 'controls gut bug'". BBC News Online. 6 April 2009. Retrieved 6 April 2009
"Powerful and prolonged protection of human retinal pigment epithelial cells..." Proceedings of the National Academy of Science US http://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.261572998
