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Breathe Easy with Broccoli A new study finds a protective link between broccoli and respiratory ailments 
Still not a fan of broccoli? You may want to try it now. According to a new report from the UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, broccoli can help protect against asthma, allergic rhinitis and other respiratory conditions. Researchers found that sulforaphane, a naturally occurring compound found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, triggers an increase in antioxidant enzymes in the human airway, which can protect against free radicals in polluted air, pollen, diesel exhaust and tobacco smoke. Free radicals, a supercharged form of oxygen, can cause oxidative tissue damage leading to inflammation and respiratory conditions like asthma. "This is one of the first studies showing that broccoli sprouts, a readily available food source, offered potent biologic effects in stimulating an antioxidant response in humans," says Marc Riedl, the study's principal investigator and an assistant professor at UCLA. The study, which evaluated 65 volunteers, administered varying oral doses of either broccoli sprouts or alfalfa sprouts, as a placebo, over a three-day period. "We found a two- to three-fold increase in antioxidant enzymes in the nasal airway cells of study participants who had eaten a preparation of broccoli sprouts," Riedl says. Riedl recommends including broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts or cabbage, in a daily diet. |
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