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Is broccoli a nutritional showstopper?

Abused by canteen cooks everywhere, the much maligned broccoli has had a makeover in

recent years.

From school dinner mulch, broccoli has been reinvented as a tenderstem, purple sprouting nutritional

showstopper."Broc" fans claim this Sunday staple can help combat cancer, high blood pressure, cardiovascular

disease and diabetes.

We've teamed up with theBritish Dietetic ssociation !BDto see if the many health claims made

about broccoli stand up to closer scrutiny.

Broccoli is a good source of vitamin # and folate !naturally occurring folic acid. $t also contains vitamins , %,

calcium, fibre, beta&carotene and other antioidants !notably indole&(&carbinol and sulforaphane

The evidence

Cancer

)ating more non&starchy vegetables, such as broccoli, is associated with a reduced ris* of some

cancers !including mouth, throat and stomach cancers, according to agood +uality -- reviewof the

evidence on cancer prevention by the World #ancer /esearch Fund. $t is possible that some of the

compounds in broccoli may have health benefits, but clinical trials are needed to investigate this

further.

High blood pressure

0here is no evidence to suggest broccoli can help lower blood pressure. $n a -1- study, 2- patients

with high blood pressure who ate 1-g of dried enriched broccoli sprouts for four wee*s saw no

improvement to the health of their blood vessels and did not reduce their ris*of atherosclerosis!narrowing of the arteries.

Cardiovascular disease

$n asmall study from -1of 31 people with diabetes, those in a group that ate 1-g a day of enriched

broccoli sprouts powder for four wee*s saw a reduction in their levels of cholesterol and triglycerides

!a type of fat found in the blood, both of which can causecardiovascular disease.

Diabetes

$n a lab study from --3, researchers applied the antioidant sulforaphane to human blood vessels

incubated with sugar. 0hey found that sulforaphane appeared to prevent the damage to small blood

vessels caused by high blood sugar !which can happen if you have diabetes. 4owever, it is unclearfrom this study whether sulforaphane would protect a person with diabetes from damage.

http://www.bda.uk.com/http://www.bda.uk.com/http://www.bda.uk.com/http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/superfoods/Documents/WCRF_food_cancer.pdfhttp://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/superfoods/Documents/WCRF_food_cancer.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20805984http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Atherosclerosis/Pages/Introduction.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Atherosclerosis/Pages/Introduction.aspxhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22325157http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22325157http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22325157http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiovascular-disease/pages/introduction.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiovascular-disease/pages/introduction.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiovascular-disease/pages/introduction.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/news/2008/08August/Pages/Broccolianddiabetes.aspxhttp://www.bda.uk.com/http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/superfoods/Documents/WCRF_food_cancer.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20805984http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Atherosclerosis/Pages/Introduction.aspxhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22325157http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cardiovascular-disease/pages/introduction.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/news/2008/08August/Pages/Broccolianddiabetes.aspx

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The dietitians verdict

lison 4ornby, a dietitian and BD spo*esperson, says5 "Broccoli may not live up to the hype, but

nevertheless it contains many nutrients, such as folate, soluble and insoluble fibre, vitamins # and ,

and calcium, which are needed for numerous functions in the body.

"$t is a member of the family of cruciferous vegetables along with cauliflower, bo* choy and

cabbage. 0hese all contain compounds that are lin*ed to improving the body's ability to impede the

growth of cancer cells.

"Broccoli is a fleible vegetable that wor*s well in salads, stir fries, curries and soups. n 3-g serving

will count towards your 6 Day."