Broccoli sprouts fight bacteria responsible for stomach ulcers, gastritis and gastric cancer

Added 01.05.2009

A study published this month reveals that daily consumption of broccoli sprouts can significantly lower levels of Heliobacter pylori (H. pylori).

H. pylori infection is common

According to the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, H. pylori is a common bacterial infection, affecting approximately 20 percent of people under the age of 40 and 50 percent over the age of 60. For unknown reasons, many people with H. pylori infection show no symptoms but for others this bacteria results in gastric disorders such as ulcers and gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) and stomach cancer. Scientists are not sure how people become infected with the bacteria but contaminated food and water could be to blame as well as possibly being transmitted through mouth-to-mouth contact.

Eating broccoli sprouts lowers H. pylori levels

According to the latest research you may be able to protect yourself against H. pylori. It's simple yet effective and it involves eating broccoli sprouts every day.

Broccoli sprouts, like other cruciferous vegetables such as mature broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, watercress and kale, are rich in sulforaphanes - compounds that have anti-microbial, anti-cancer and anti-diabetic properties.

The Study

Background information
48 men and women (average age 54.5 years) with H. pylori infection were given 70 grams of broccoli sprouts every day for eight weeks or the same amount of alfalfa sprouts.

Results
At the end of eight weeks, tests revealed that the participants who had consumed the broccoli sprouts had significantly lower levels of the bacteria. Those ingesting the alfalfa sprouts showed no improvement.

Conclusions
The researchers believe that the sulphoraphane content in broccoli sprouts stimulates antioxidant and anti-inflammatory enzymes that fight the infection. They also believe that broccoli sprouts may also be effective in preventing stomach cancer.

Getting your daily dose of sulforaphanes

If you, like many others, can't or don't like to eat broccoli sprouts or other cruciferous vegetables every day, don't miss out on the perfect alternative to still get your daily dose of natural sulforaphanes. Doctor's Natural Phyto-Synergy contains sulforaphanes (natural broccoli extract) as well as other antioxidants that are vital for a strong immune system and stomach and gut health such as quercetin, caffeine-free green tea extract and lycopene. These phytonutrients have been called "medicines of the 21st century" by the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

References:

Dr. Bo Nielsen's comments:

We have known for many years that the bacteria called Heliobacter pylori is the primary cause of stomach ulcers and gastritis. However, many still believe that these conditions are caused by "too much acid" and should be treated with "acid neutralising drugs" that may reduce symptoms but do not treat the cause of this very common problem. This study is the first to show that a very healthy vegetable, broccoli, can treat the cause and not just the symptoms by killing H. pylori bacteria. However, many people find it hard to eat broccoli every day. For that reason I always recommend you ensure you get enough of this healthy vegetable by taking a daily supplement containing broccoli extract combined with other healthy plant extracts.