Mom Was Right, Broccoli Good for You

Broccoli has high levels of antioxidants "Eating steamed broccoli reduces the risk of a heart attack by boosting the body's ability to fight off cell damage", The Daily Telegraph reported. New research suggests that a mechanism involving antioxidants found in the Brassicaceae family of vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts) prevents the build-up of free radicals. Excessive production of free radicals can harm cells and even trigger cancers. The paper quotes other researchers who have long believed that antioxidant substances have health benefits. However, many studies have failed to show an effect. The rats which were fed broccoli during this study showed some changes in proteins and heart function compared to those fed only water. However, without knowing if the activation of heart-protective proteins in response to antioxidants would be the same in humans, it would be premature to claim that eating broccoli specifically reduces your chance of a heart attack, as opposed to a healthy eating pattern in general.