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Broccoli Sprouts and Other Cruciferous Vegetables May Prevent Respiratory Inflammation
March 23, 2009
Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), report that sulforaphane may help reduce the risk of respiratory inflammation that leads to such chronic diseases as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In the study, researchers tested the upper airways of 65 participants, some of whom were fed escalating doses of broccoli or alfalfa sprouts for three days (the alfalfa sprouts served as a placebo). At the end of the three days, participants with the highest dose of broccoli sprouts were found to have up to three times as many antioxidant enzymes (which help protect against environmental pollutants) in their upper airway cells, compared to baseline.
In a UCLA press release, the researchers reported that they “found significant increases of antioxidant enzymes at broccoli sprout doses of 100 grams and higher, compared with the placebo group. The maximum broccoli sprout dosage of 200 grams generated a 101-percent increase of an antioxidant enzyme called GSTP1 and a 199-percent increase of another key enzyme called NQO1.”
Other cruciferous vegetables containing sulforaphane include cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and collards.(1)
The take-away point for asthma sufferers and others struggling with respiratory challenges: eating your cruciferous vegetables and sprouts is more important than ever.
(1) Riedl MA, Saxon A, Diaz-Sanchez D. Oral sulforamphane increases Phase II antioxidant enzymesin the human upper airway. Clin Immunol. 209;130:244-251.
Topics: Health News