Research reveals how broccoli protects our stomach and keeps diseases at bay
Broccoli is surely not on the top favourite of too many people. But we are sure that some of you like broccoli. Now, for those who do, you surely know that it is beneficial to our health. For instance, it can reduce the chance of having cancer and type 2 diabetes. A brand-new research has now revealed more about this green vegetable. What exactly? Well, as it turns out, broccoli contains certain molecules called aryl hydrocarbon that help protect the lining of small intestine in mice, thereby reducing the chance of any relevant disease in the region. Now, earlier studies have shown that what is true in case of mice is also true for humans. Therefore, the team of researchers from Penn State University, USA has deemed broccoli as a “superfood.”
Sources also cite that not just broccoli, but other cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and Brussel sprouts are also equally good for health, both in mice and in people. Maybe that is why the scientists have suggested that they be part of our daily diet. In fact, broccoli like vegetables help conserve the wall of the small intestine that actually enables water and nutrients to pass to the rest of the body but stops bacteria and other toxins from causing harm. And now, it has been found out that such vegetables help the functioning of cells that help in modulating these body activities. These are, enterocytes (absorb water and nutrients), goblet cells (secrete a protective layer of mucus on the intestinal wall), and Paneth cells (secrete lysosomes that have digestive enzymes).
As part of this process, the aryl hydrocarbon from broccoli binds to the AHR (aryl hydrocarbon receptors) in the body of a mice (and in humans) and helps in secretion of a protein called transcription factor. This protein binding, as has been revealed, influences the functioning of the intestinal cells, in turn protecting against diseases.
This recent study has been published in the scientific journal Laboratory Investigation and has been funded by The National Institutes of Health Grants, USA, Penn State Cancer Institute, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As for the research, a family of mice were fed diets containing 15 percent of broccoli (equivalent to 3.5 cups a day for humans) as against a group of mice a normal diet sans the broccoli. Finally, when they examined the intestinal cells and tissues to figure out whether or not AHR was activated, they say that they were highly functioning in the mice who consumed broccoli in comparison to the group who didn’t. In fact, the mice who didn’t eat the vegetable had altered intestinal barrier function, reduced transit time of food in the small intestine, lower number of goblet cells and protective layer of mucus as well as decreased lysosome generation, enterocyte cells and Paneth cells functioning.
Overall, it showed how the gut health in the mice who didn’t consume broccoli was compromised and were more likely to be diseased, as they had less resilient small intestines. Better put, it means that it is enhanced AHR activity that helps in metabolism and functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.