In The News: Eat Broccoli, Get Rid Of Pollution??!!

I know my last post was nutrition news related but this info was too interesting not to post!! A recent study conducted in China, published this month in Cancer Prevention Research has highlighted the potential of broccoli to help remove excess airborne pollutants from the body! For someone like myself, who lives in a city like Los Angeles, this is key!!

A 12 week study was conducted with 291 subjects from rural He-He Township, Qidong, in the Yangtze River delta region of China, (an area well known to have high levels of airborne pollutants.  )

The participants were given a broccoli sprout derived drink and blood and urine levels of pollutant excretion were measured before and after.  The results? The patients consuming the broccoli compounds had a higher level of pollutant excretion than than those given the placebo! The researchers concluded that "Thus, intervention with broccoli sprouts enhances the detoxication of some airborne pollutants and may provide a frugal means to attenuate their associated long-term health risks". You can read an abstract of the study HERE.  

More research needs to be conducted to determine actual doses etc and it is very likely that eating broccoli itself (which contains the protective  molecules glucoraphanin that, when chewed or crushed, produces sulforaphane, which is known to help prevent cancer.) will also be beneficial, not just broccoli sprout teas.  So get your hands on some broccoli right away- as a side, in salads, in soups, in omelets etc. Or try my Broccoli Soup or Salad