Researchers at the
University of
Connecticut have revealed that eating broccoli can effectively
fight heart disease.
Broccoli has always been a rich source of antioxidants,
vitamins, and fiber that may protect against cancer. The new study
led by Dipak K. Das has found that it may benefit the heart.
The team conducted the research using rats where they gave
broccoli extract to lab rats for one month and examined its effects
on the rats’ heart muscle.
The findings revealed that broccoli-fed animals had improved
heart function and reduced heart muscle damage when deprived of
oxygen compared to control group that ate a regular diet.
Researchers believe that broccoli’s beneficial effects are
likely due to its high concentrations of certain substances that
seem to boost levels of a heart-protective protein called
thioredoxin.
The study is scheduled to be published in Jan 23 issue of ACS’
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
(China Daily January 23, 2008)
