Broccoli lowers obesity risk and helps treat diabetes, according to a new Swedish study. Learn more about how broccoli can benefit your health.
Broccoli is part of the cruciferous vegetable family, which is well known for compounds called glucosinolates that have anti-cancer benefits.
Research has shown that eating broccoli can help prevent a wide variety of conditions, including arthritis, heart disease, kidney disease and more.
Studies also show that a compound called sulfophrane in broccoli may help reduce the risk of obesity. Mice that were fed a high-fat diet with sulforaphane gained weight at a 15 percent slower rate than those who didn’t receive sulforaphane.
They also gained 20 percent less visceral fat, which is the fat that builds up around the organs.
In a new Swedish study, sulforaphane was able to help treat diabetes as well.
Medical News Today reports:
“While there are medications, such as metformin, that can help people with type 2 diabetes to manage their blood glucose levels, [doctoral student Annika] Axelsson and team note that some patients are unable to use them due to their severe side effects, which include kidney damage.
As such, there is a need for safer alternatives. Could sulforaphane meet this need? To answer this question, Axelsson and colleagues created a genetic signature for type 2 diabetes, based on 50 genes associated with the condition. The researchers then applied this signature to public gene expression data.
This allowed them to assess the effects of more than 3,800 compounds on gene expression changes in liver cells that are associated with type 2 diabetes. The team found that sulforaphane — a chemical compound present in cruciferous vegetables including broccoli sprouts, Brussel sprouts, cabbage and watercress — demonstrated the strongest effects.”
Note: None of the information in our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The content on our website is for educational purposes only.
DON’T FORGET to sign up for our weekly newsletter to get our latest articles, updates, free recipes and giveaways.
Could broccoli sprouts be the key to fighting diabetes?
How does broccoli fight cancer?
Powerful cancer-fighting broccoli sprout salad.
REFERENCES:
1. “Broccoli Compound Lowers Risk of Obesity and Helps Treat Diabetes.” Mercola.com. Mercola.com, n.d. Web. 28 June 2017.
2. “Glucoraphanin Ameliorates Obesity and Insulin Resistance Through Adipose Tissue Browning and Reduction of Metabolic Endotoxemia in Mice.” Diabetes. American Diabetes Association, 01 May 2017. Web. 28 June 2017.
3. “Sulforaphane Reduces Hepatic Glucose Production and Improves Glucose Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.” Science Translational Medicine. American Association for the Advancement of Science, 14 June 2017. Web. 28 June 2017.
