Baby Broccoli for a Healthy Belly

A study published in Cancer Prevention Research found that 3-day old broccoli sprouts are effective at inhibiting Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that is connected with ulcer formation and stomach cancer. The cancer protective effects of the phytochemicals found in broccoli are well known, but this is the first study to show an effect of broccoli in humans on the bacterial infection that leads to stomach cancer.

In this study, researchers enrolled 48 Helicobacter-infected Japanese men and women and randomly assigned them to eat 70 grams of fresh broccoli sprouts daily for eight weeks or an equivalent amount of alfalfa sprouts. The group that ate the broccoli sprouts showed greatly reduced levels of the bacteria in their bodies. Broccoli sprouts, which are baby broccoli plants, contain larger concentrations of phytochemicals so they may be even more powerful than the mature plants.

Daily Nutrition Tip

_{Photo © Marek Uliasz}