A study in Japan suggest that eating two and half ounces of broccoli sprouts daily for two months may protect against bacteria that causes gastritis, ulcers and even stomach cancer.
Most people don’t like the taste and texture of broccoli. But the nutritional benefits it offers cannot be disregarded. Broccoli is packed with antioxidants and other nutrients, including vitamin C, foliate, calcium, beta carotene and full of fiber.
In the study, broccoli sprouts or baby broccolis have particularly high concentration of antioxidant called sulforaphane (much higher than mature heads broccoli). Sulphoraphane is said to trigger enzymes in the gut that boost the body’s defenses against oxygen radicals, DNA-damaging chemicals, and inflammation and perhaps ultimately help prevent stomach cancer, although research is still at an early stage.
It has long been known that sulforaphane is a potent antibiotic against Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that causes gastritis, ulcers and stomach cancer. H. pylori infection doesn’t always cause symptoms, but it can lead to stomach inflammation and ulcers. It’s also a major risk factor for stomach cancer. Studies in animals have shown that sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts elevate the protective enzymes against bacterium, and also reduce inflammation and cell damage that could lead to cancer. But not much research has been done in people.
In the new study, the researchers gave 25 people in Japan who were infected with Helicobacter pylori 70 grams per day of broccoli sprouts for two months. Another 25 infected people consumed an equivalent amount of alfalfa sprouts, although rich in phytochemicals, don’t contain sulforaphane.
Researchers monitored the participants and found out that those eating broccoli sprouts reduced the level of infections and inflammation. This suggests that the likelihood of getting gastritis, ulcer and cancer is probably reduced.
Even with its promising findings, larger studies are still needed to confirm these results and explore more whether eating broccoli sprouts does, in fact, lower the risk of stomach cancer. In the meantime, eating broccoli regularly won’t be such a bad idea as it gives us a lot of nutritional benefits.
Most people don’t like the taste and texture of broccoli. But the nutritional benefits it offers cannot be disregarded. Broccoli is packed with antioxidants and other nutrients, including vitamin C, foliate, calcium, beta carotene and full of fiber.
In the study, broccoli sprouts or baby broccolis have particularly high concentration of antioxidant called sulforaphane (much higher than mature heads broccoli). Sulphoraphane is said to trigger enzymes in the gut that boost the body’s defenses against oxygen radicals, DNA-damaging chemicals, and inflammation and perhaps ultimately help prevent stomach cancer, although research is still at an early stage.
It has long been known that sulforaphane is a potent antibiotic against Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that causes gastritis, ulcers and stomach cancer. H. pylori infection doesn’t always cause symptoms, but it can lead to stomach inflammation and ulcers. It’s also a major risk factor for stomach cancer. Studies in animals have shown that sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts elevate the protective enzymes against bacterium, and also reduce inflammation and cell damage that could lead to cancer. But not much research has been done in people.
In the new study, the researchers gave 25 people in Japan who were infected with Helicobacter pylori 70 grams per day of broccoli sprouts for two months. Another 25 infected people consumed an equivalent amount of alfalfa sprouts, although rich in phytochemicals, don’t contain sulforaphane.
Researchers monitored the participants and found out that those eating broccoli sprouts reduced the level of infections and inflammation. This suggests that the likelihood of getting gastritis, ulcer and cancer is probably reduced.
Even with its promising findings, larger studies are still needed to confirm these results and explore more whether eating broccoli sprouts does, in fact, lower the risk of stomach cancer. In the meantime, eating broccoli regularly won’t be such a bad idea as it gives us a lot of nutritional benefits.
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