Eat Your Vegetables

Eat Your Vegetables

NewsChannel 5 at Noon:

8/8/2002 2:57:44 PM

 

Eating your vegetables may be more important than even your parents knew. What we know today is that broccoli can be used to prevent all kinds of stomach problems including ulcers and even cancers. Researchers have discovered that a broccoli compound called sulforaphane works as an anticancer agent that fights a bacterium in the stomach. This bacterium called Helicobacter pylori – is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Broccoli even killed antibiotic resistant strains of Helicobacter pylori and the bacteria that hide inside the cells. This information comes from lab work being done at Johns Hopkins University along with the French National Scientific Research Center. The researchers are ready to do studies with people. They know their findings will have application not only in the United States, but also in parts of the world where antibiotics are not available.

We are not suggesting that people start a “broccoli only” diet. In addition to finding sulforaphane in broccoli and broccoli sprouts, researchers have identified other vegetables with this compound as well. And, there will be more studies of plant prevention for diseases in the future. One researcher feels that if food can prevent or relieve diseases associated with stomach bacteria it will lead to significant benefits around the world.