Mom was right when she said “Eat your broccoli.” Or, even better, eat your broccoli sprouts!
Broccoli sprouts are rich in a phytochemical called SF, which kills a common gut infection (called Helicobacter pylori) that causes stomach cancer, according to a new study conducted in the U.S and Japan.
For the study, 48 patients who were infected with H. pylori were randomly assigned to a group eating broccoli sprouts (70 g/day) for eight weeks or an equal amount of alfalfa sprouts (not containing SF). There was a 40 per cent reduction in the level of infection in those who ate the broccoli sprouts, and no reduction with alfalfa sprouts.
“This clinical trial says if you eat broccoli sprouts it looks pretty good that you will reduce H. pylori infection and by association reduce your risk for stomach cancer,” Dr. Jed Fahey, faculty research associate at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD told Metro.
Broccoli sprouts may help prevent other cancers too. Eating two servings a day of cruciferous vegetables – which include broccoli, kale, cabbage, cauliflower and bok choy – reduces your risk of colorectal cancer.
