Broccoli helps to keep your gut healthy

Are you suffering from digestive problems? Consuming three and a half cups of a fibrous vegetables with many nutrients, like broccoli, each day, may help maintain a healthy gut, a new study suggests. Good intestinal barrier function means that the gastrointestinal tract is helping protect the intestines from toxins and harmful microorganisms, while allowing nutrients to pass into the system. The study published in the journal of Functional Foods says cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, brussels sprouts and cabbage, contain an organic chemical compound that further maintains a healthy gut flora and immune surveillance. “There are a lot of reasons we want to explore that help with gastrointestinal health. And one reason is, if you have problems, like a leaky gut, and start to suffer inflammation, it may lead to other conditions, such as arthritis and heart disease,” said Gary Perdew, Professor at the Pennsylvania State University in the US. Therefore, it’s important to keep the gut nutritious. “Keeping your gut healthy and making sure you have good barrier functions so you’re not getting this leaky effect would be really big,” he added. In addition, broccoli may also help prevent cancerous diseases and Crohn’s Disease, caused by inflammation in the lining of the gut, the research suggests. The researchers also performed a mice study. It showed that mice with a broccoli-supplemented diet were better able to tolerate digestive issues similar to symptoms of leaky gut and colitis than those without it. Previous studies have suggested that broccoli may also help regulate diabetes and reduce the risk of prostrate cancer.

THE STUDY SAYS CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES, SUCH AS BROCCOLI AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS CONTAIN AN ORGANIC CHEMICAL COMPOUND THAT FURTHER MAINTAINS A HEALTHY GUT FLORA AND IMMUNE SURVEILLANCE

PHOTO: ISTOCK