broccoli sprouts Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Helpful Foods to Support People with Autism

AHA Publisher — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 07:00:59 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – The sulforaphane found in five cents’ worth of broccoli sprouts has been shown to benefit autism in a way no drug ever has in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. You may remember my series of videos, which includes Prevent Cancer from Going on TOR, about target of rapamycin (TOR), the engine-of-aging enzyme. Kids with autism tend to have higher TOR activity in their bodies, and this hyperactive TOR signaling may play a role in causingautism, which makes TOR a potential target to treat autism or even theoretically reverse it if we could target downstream TOR signaling, like between TOR and S6K1, as you can see at 0:29 in my video Best Foods for Autism. In fact, that’s one of the ways sulforaphane, a compound in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, kills off prostate cancer cells—by inhibiting the signal transduction between TOR and S6K1. Sulforaphane is also “a potent inhibitor” of breast cancer cells because “it targets downstream elements of the [TOR] pathway.” So, if broccoli blocks TOR and if we give it to those with autism, maybe it would block some of the synaptic dysfunction that contributes to the features of autism—and that’s in addition to blocking autism pathways four other ways: oxidative stress, lower antioxidant capacity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and brain inflammation. What’s more, this doesn’t only occur in a petri dish. “Importantly, sulforaphane can cross the blood-brain-barrier,” so when you eat broccoli, sulforaphane quickly reaches your brain “to exert its protective effects”—at least it does in theory. You don’t know, of course, until you put it to the test. You can understand why such a study could attract researchers from such leading institutions as Harvard and Johns Hopkins, and get published in one of our most prestigious journals, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. What did they find? First, what did they do? “In a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial, young men (aged 13–27) with moderate to severe ASD [autism] received” sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts or an indistinguishable sugar pill. They were dosed according to body weight: Those under 100 pounds got about a tablespoon of broccoli sprouts’ worth of sulforaphane a day, which is about a cup’s worth of broccoli, those weighing between 100 and 200 pounds got about the equivalent of two cups of broccoli or two tablespoons of fresh broccoli sprouts, and those over 200 pounds got three cups’ worth a day or a little under a quarter cup of broccoli sprouts. Why didn’t the researchers use actual broccoli or actual sprouts? If they had, it wouldn’t have been a blinded study. The patients, doctors, and parents would know who was and who wasn’t getting the special treatment, which could introduce bias through the placebo effect. Instead, with this study set-up, no one knew until the end who got the sulforaphane and who got the placebo. The researchers chose dietary sulforaphane because of its capacity to reverse oxidation, dysfunction, and inflammation, but when put to the test, did it actually work? The placebo didn’t. Give people with autism nothing, and nothing much happens. But effectively secretly sneak them some broccoli, and substantial improvements in behavior, social interaction, and verbal communication occurred. However, it all disappeared once the broccoli was stopped. As you can see at 3:25 in my video, on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, which includes things such as repetitive behaviors, there was no big change in the placebo group, which is what you’d expect, but the abnormal behaviors plunged in the sulforaphane group—the group who got the sulforaphane found in only about five cents’ worth of broccoli sprouts a day. The study ended in week 18, however, and a month later, things were heading back to where they started. There were similar findings on a Social Responsiveness Scale: significant improvements were seen until the treatment was stopped, and then the participants went right back to functioning as poorly as those in the placebo group had continued to function. And these weren’t just scores on a page. “The substantial improvements…were conspicuous”—the doctors, parents, and caregivers could see the improvements. No drug has ever been shown to have these kinds of effects. What’s more, these were young men, starting at age 13. One could imagine it working as well or even better with younger children because their brains are still developing. And, is there a downside? “Broccoli sprouts are widely consumed as a food item all over the world by a very large number of individuals, without any reports of adverse effects”—but remember we’re talking about whole foods, not sulforaphane supplements. Indeed, broccoli sprouts work, but commercial broccoli sprout supplements hardly work at all. As you can see at 4:55 in my video, broccoli has sulforaphane, with the florets more so than the stems, and broccoli sprouts have about ten times more sulforaphane. In comparison, broccoli pills, powders, and supplements have little or none. So, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables arefor all kids, whether they have autism or not, and they may be for pregnant women as well for the potential prenatal prevention of autism in the first place. This article covers the big finale to my initial three-part video series on autism. For the background that led researchers down this path of clues, check out Fever Benefits for Autism in a Food and Fighting Autism Brain Inflammation with Food. You can also check: Flashback Friday: The Best Foods for Fighting Autism and Brain Inflammation. We understand there may be a variety of challenges pertaining to catering to picky palates, sensory and food texture sensitivities, or kids who are reluctant to try new foods, and we hope this evidence-based article can provide some helpful health information to parents and health practitioners. For more tips and tricks, check out How to Get Kids to Eat Their Vegetables. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Greger click here.

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Broccoli Sprout Extracts May Help Treat Type 2 Diabetes

AHA Publisher — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 08:00:20 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Type 2 diabetes, which occurs when the body’s supply of insulin is insufficient to control blood sugar, affects over 30 million Americans. In addition to raising the risk of heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes can cause nerve damage and kidney disease. And, while Western medicine attempts to control diabetes with medications such as metformin, these can cause toxic side effects, including kidney damage. Clearly, there is a pressing need for safer treatments – and research shows that broccoli sprouts just might fill the bill. As it turns out, these slender little sprouts may even help fight the disease at the genetic level – a truly exciting development. Let’s take a look at an innovative new study showcasing the effects of broccoli sprouts against diabetes. Discover the “secret weapon” inside broccoli sprouts Despite their small size and unremarkable appearance, broccoli sprouts are true heavyweights when it comes to their content of sulphoraphane – a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant compound found in cruciferous vegetables. When it comes to glucoraphanin – which is a vital precursor to sulphoraphane – broccoli sprouts contain 10 to 100 times more than their larger counterparts, including cabbage, kale, mature broccoli flowerets and Brussels sprouts. Because of their rich sulphoraphane content, broccoli sprouts are currently being evaluated by researchers for their potential against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune disease, autism and cancer – particularly of the breast, bladder, prostate and lungs. Incidentally, sulphoraphane even inhibits the growth of H. pylori bacteria, a common culprit in stomach ulcers. And, of course, a growing body of research supports the use of broccoli sprouts against diabetes. In fact, these little greens have shown so much promise against type 2 diabetes that many forward-thinking integrative doctors currently consider them supplementary treatments. Study compares diabetes-fighting genetic profiles and ranks sulphoraphane at the top of the list In a study conducted at the Lund University Diabetes Center in Sweden, scientists first created a “genetic signature” fortype 2 diabetes, involving 50 different genes associated with the disease. They then compared this with the gene signatures for various compounds, hoping for one that could counteract the effects of diabetes. The most promising of all the candidates was sulphoraphane, which researchers said altered the expression of certain liver genes in a way that could benefit type 2 diabetes. In earlier studies, sulphoraphane had been shown to reduce amounts of glucose (blood sugar) produced by liver cells. In addition, animal studies revealed that it was also able to improve both glucose tolerance and the expression of genes associated with type 2 diabetes. To conduct the latest study, which was published in Science Translational Medicine, 97 participants with type 2 diabetes were given either a placebo or a broccoli sprout extract for 12 weeks. According to study leader Dr. Annika Axelsson, sulphoraphane led to “significant improvements” in fasting glucose levels, when used by obese participants with poorly controlled blood sugar. In other words, the compound did not reduce fasting glucose in patients whose diabetes was well controlled. Encouragingly, the team noted that sulphoraphane decreased the production of key enzymes in gluconeogenesis – the production of new blood sugar. Earlier studies agree: Broccoli sprouts fight diabetes by multiple mechanisms While this study was the first to explore the genetic signature of sulphoraphane, it built upon previous research on the effects of broccoli sprouts against diabetes. In a 2013 review published in Journal of Medicinal Foods, the authors reported that sulphoraphane increases antioxidant response while inactivating pro-inflammatory molecules, such as NF-kB and C-reactive protein. This means it can strike at the heart of the oxidative stress and inflammation that trigger diabetes. They also credited sulphoraphane with the ability to combat dangerous complications from diabetes, stating that it “could prevent nephropathy (kidney damage), diabetes-induced fibrosis (scarring) and vascular complications.” As if this weren’t enough, sulphoraphane from broccoli sprouts helps to lower triglycerides (fats) in the blood and reduce harmful LDL cholesterol, potentially allowing it to help prevent the heart disease that can result from type 2 diabetes. Improve your mood with this nutrient-packed “superfood” High in fiber, low in calories and packed with antioxidant vitamins C and A, broccoli sprouts also supply calcium and iron. Use broccoli sprouts to add texture and flavor to salads. Or you can layer them into sandwiches – or serve them on the side as a refreshing accent to cooked dishes. For maximum benefit, broccoli sprouts should be eaten uncooked, and chewed thoroughly. The act of chewing releases myrosinase, a compound needed to unleash beneficial sulphoraphane. As an added benefit: eating broccoli sprouts may even help your mood. Sulphoraphane has been shown in studies to reduce glutamate, an amino acid which has been linked to depression and other mental health issues. Broccoli sprouts are generally available at health food stores, and at some supermarkets. If they are hard to come by, no problem: you can sprout your own. You can get information on “DIY” broccoli sprouts here. Finally, broccoli sprouts are available as an extract. Other helpful supplements for type 2 diabetes include ginseng, cinnamon and bitter melon. In addition, there is strong evidence that alpha lipoic acid (ALA) supplements can improve insulin resistance and reduce the pain of neuropathy. Typically, ALA dosages are 600 mg a day, but – as always – consult your integrative doctor before supplementing with these natural nutrients for type 2 diabetes. Naturally, proper nutrition plays an important role in the control of type 2 diabetes, as well. Diabetes-friendly foods include fatty fish, dark leafy greens, avocados, eggs, legumes, chia seeds, Greek yogurt and nuts. Naturally, it’s wise to banish processed foods, GMOs, refined sugars, fried foods and trans fats from your diet. Bottom line: this exciting new research shows that sulphoraphane-packed broccoli sprouts can help score a “direct hit” against type 2 diabetes and its health consequences. Sources for this article include: Sciencemag.org, MedicalNewsToday.com, NIH.gov, WebMD.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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