Broccoli benefits have been well-known for several aspects of health. Recent research now shows that broccoli may also offer the best overall ingredients for protection against a long list of inflammatory diseases. Unfortunately, eating whole broccoli is not the best way to get these ingredients.

The following is an abstract from a recently published research article. Take a quick look at it, then skip down to my explanation of what this means for your health.

The Abstract

Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2010 Dec 1. [Epub ahead of print]

Protective effect of sulforaphane against oxidative stress: Recent advances.

Guerrero-Beltrán CE, Calderón-Oliver M, Pedraza-Chaverri J, Chirino YI.

Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 México, DF, Mexico.
Abstract

Sulforaphane [1-isothiocyanate-(4R)-(methylsulfinyl)butane] is a natural dietary isothiocyanate produced by the enzymatic action of the myrosinase on glucopharanin, a 4-methylsulfinylbutyl glucosinolate contained in cruciferous vegetables of the genus Brassica such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cabbage. Studies on this compound is increasing because its anticarcinogenic and cytoprotective properties in several in vivo experimental paradigms associated with oxidative stress such as focal cerebral ischemia, brain inflammation, intracerebral hemorrhage, ischemia and reperfusion induced acute renal failure, cisplatin induced-nephrotoxicity, streptozotocin-induced diabetes, carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity and cardiac ischemia and reperfusion. This protective effect also has been observed in in vitro studies in different cell lines such as human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y, renal epithelial proximal tubule LLC-PK1 cells and aortic smooth muscle A10 cells. Sulforaphane is considered an indirect antioxidant; this compound is able to induce many cytoprotective proteins, including antioxidant enzymes, through the Nrf2-antioxidant response element pathway. Heme oxygenase-1, NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase, glutathione-S-transferase, gamma-glutamyl cysteine ligase, and glutathione reductase are among the cytoprotective proteins induced by sulforaphane. In conclusion, sulforaphane is a promising antioxidant agent that is effective to attenuate oxidative stress and tissue/cell damage in different in vivo and in vitro experimental paradigms.
Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

PMID: 21129940 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

Translation into English

The key point here is the list of effects of sulforaphane against several inflammatory problems. Sulforaphane is generated from broccoli and similar vegetables (best in broccoli, though) by a biochemical reaction involving a certain type of enzyme.

Unfortunately, this reaction does not occur very efficiently when you eat broccoli. In fact, it is most inefficient when you eat raw broccoli. On the other hand, the enzyme is destroyed by overcooking. Steamed broccoli would provide the best source of sulforaphane from whole broccoli, although this still falls short of what you can get from a properly extracted sulforaphane fraction in a good nutritional supplement.

Not too long ago I attended a seminar about a new product from Thorne Research, which is one of the absolutely best companies in the entire nutritional supplement industry. They have been researching broccoli for quite a while and have just come out with a new product called Crucera-SGS that offers the best way to get the right ingredients from broccoli into your supplement program. I was so impressed that I now take this supplement every day. It sure beats eating several pounds of broccoli to get the same benefits!

Thorne Research focuses on formulas for health professionals, so the new Crucera-SGS will probably not be widely available in everyday nutrition stores. Nevertheless, online stores are starting to offer it, so it should be easy to get it. I highly recommend it.

All the best for broccoli benefits,

Dr. D

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