Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Broccoli is a high-fiber cruciferous superfood that contains a powerful cancer-fighting agent called sulforaphane. How to make it even healthier? Scientists say just add yogurt.
Researchers at the University of Illinois discovered that friendly bacteria in the gut, known as probiotics, work a crucial magic on digesting broccoli, helping to release and absorb sulforaphane into the body.
So that broccoli really packs a punch, they suggest feeding the helpful bacteria in your gut with prebiotics, such as fiber, to encourage their proliferation. Another idea is to eat broccoli with probiotics, "combining, say, broccoli with a yogurt sauce that contains the hydrolyzing bacteria," said study researcher Michael Miller in a news release on October 22.
Broccoli is special in that it is a rich source of sulforaphane, and eating less than one daily serving of broccoli is shown to be enough to have an anti-cancer effect. "With many of the other bioactive foods you hear about, vast amounts are required for a measurable outcome," said Elizabeth Jeffery, a University of Illinois professor of human nutrition.
Why make a good food even better? Because many people overcook broccoli, which destroys the plant enzyme that gives your body sulforaphane, said Jeffery. "Now we know the microbiota in our digestive tract can salvage some of this important cancer-preventive agent even if that happens."
Results from the study will be published in the November issue of Food & Function.
To access the full study: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Journals/JournalIssues/FO
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments