Broccoli Battles Stomach Cancer Causing Bacteria, Says Research Study
April 13, 2009 Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis WASHINGTON, D.C.- Former President George H. W. Bush became famous for his dislike of eating broccoli. Those that agree with him might want to rethink that position.
Image Courtesy of SugarShakes.The American Institute for Cancer Research has just completed a study showing that eating a healthy portion of broccoli regularly can suppress a bacteria known to be a contributing cause of ulcers, gastritis, and stomach cancer.
The bacteria is Helicobacter pylori. Broccoli and its sprouts are rich in sulforaphane, a compound known by researchers to be a potent antibiotic against the bacteria.
A team of AICR-funded researchers in Japan and at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, randomly assigned 48 patients infected with H. pylori to eat a daily dose of broccoli sprouts or alfalfa. The broccoli sprouts delivered the same amount of sulforaphane as about two to three servings of broccoli. Alfalfa does not contain sulforaphane.