The humble broccoli is a super food that has anti-cancer properties, and scientists now believe it may also help protect the joints. For the first time, scientists have discovered it can play a role in the prevention of osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by degeneration of cartilage. However, the green vegetable is rich in the compound sulforaphane, and initial research suggests this may play a key role in protecting bones and joints and stop them from wasting away.
A team of scientists from the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom discovered that the chemical blocks the enzymes that cause joint destruction, reports the Daily Mail.
Around 30 patients will be fed the broccoli before their joint replacement operations, and they will be examined after surgery to see if sulforaphone has successfully entered their joints. If the strategy is found to be effective, additional patients will be recruited for a wider clinical trial.
Now you have a whole new reason to eat your broccoli—especially if you’re an arthritis sufferer.