Substances found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables prevent inflammation of the respiratory tract, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Sulforaphane stimulates increased production of antioxidants in the airways, which protect tissues from destruction by free radicals due to dirty air, pollen, emissions and tobacco smoke. It is the damage that can cause the inflammatory process.

The study included 65 people who received doses of the substance or ate broccoli every three days. Some have replaced alfalfa cabbage. Broccoli shoots are the richest source of sulforaphane, while alfalfa does not contain a beneficial substance.

"We saw that the number of antioxidants in new respiratory tract cells increased 2-3 times if participants ate broccoli," the author of the study, Mark Riedl. "Such a prevention strategy can protect against inflammatory processes".

The advantage of sulforaphane is that it expands the spectrum of antioxidants that block the effects of a wide variety of air pollutants.

However, further research is needed to measure the usefulness of the substance and its dosage. Sumy. Ua.