All right, broccoli fans - turns out your immune system is happier
A compound found in broccoli has more
health-boosting tricks up its sleeves.
A compound found in broccoli and related vegetables may have more health-boosting tricks up its sleeves, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.
Veggie fans can already point to some cancer-fighting properties of 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM), a chemical produced from the compound indole-3-carbinol when Brassica vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and kale are chewed and digested. Animal studies have shown that DIM can actually stop the growth of certain cancer cells.
“It is well-known that the immune system can seek out and destroy tumor cells, and even prevent tumor growth,” said Ling Xue. “An important type of T cell, called a T killer cell, can directly kill certain tumor cells, virally infected cells and sometimes parasites. This study provides strong evidence that could help explain how DIM blocks tumor growth in animals.”
And if you grew up in an old-fashioned Italian neighborhood, you had spaghetti con il broccolo dell’aglio dell’olio at least once a week as your main meal.
Not only do I love it - turns out to be good for me.
Posted: Thu - August 23, 2007 at 10:59 AM