Broccoli consumption protects gut lining, reduces disease in mice, study shows (3.5 cups a day)

Medical Xpress / Pennsylvania State University / Laboratory Investigation ^ | April 6, 2023 | Xiaoliang Zhou et al

[ConservativeMind]

Researchers found that broccoli contains certain molecules that bind to a receptor within mice and help to protect the lining of the small intestine, thereby inhibiting the development of disease.

Said Gary Perdew. "Our research provides strong evidence that cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts should be part of a normal healthy diet."

According to Perdew, the wall of the small intestine allows beneficial water and nutrients to pass into the body but prevents food particles and bacteria that could cause harm. Certain cells that line the intestine—including enterocytes, which absorb water and nutrients; goblet cells, which secrete a protective layer of mucus on the intestinal wall; and Paneth cells, which secrete lysosomes that contain digestive enzymes—help to modulate this activity and keep a healthy balance.

Perdew and his colleagues found that molecules in broccoli, called aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands, bind to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), which is a type of protein called a transcription factor. This binding, they found, initiates a variety of activities that affect the functions of intestinal cells.

To conduct their study, the researchers fed an experimental group of mice a diet containing 15% broccoli—equivalent to about 3.5 cups per day for humans—and fed a control group of mice a typical lab diet that did not contain broccoli.

The team found that mice that were not fed broccoli lacked AHR activity, which resulted in altered intestinal barrier function, reduced transit time of food in the small intestine, decreased number of goblet cells and protective mucus, decreased Paneth cells and lysosome production, and decreased number of enterocyte cells.

More broadly, added Andrew Patterson, "these data suggest that dietary cues, relayed through the activity of AHR, can reshape the cellular and metabolic repertoire of the gastrointestinal tract."

[dila813]

Go to the PDF

[ConservativeMind]

I did. That is where I got my quote.

[Magic Fingers]

Hello...NEWMAN :)

[Delta 21]

If that was truly the case my God would have made the broccoli taste like bacon.

[dila813]

I’m not going to read it again, said nothing study

[Eccl 10:2]

Ha! Good one. Happy Resurrection Day.

[GaltAdonis]

Going grocery shopping today (instead of my usual Sunday -
which happens to be Easter this week) - and I will buy
some broccoli. I like the stuff, and it IS very healthy.

So is cabbage - and I just checked, I have half a bag left of
shredded cabbage - enough for 2 or 3 servings of home-made
sugar free coleslaw. (Yes, sugar is by default put into coleslaw -
and I am a diabetic, you see - so one MORE thing I have to make
homemade myself...)

.

But I draw the line at kale. I refuse to eat kale -
it is bitter and gross. But kale is so super-healthy that I
have tried numerous recipes to try to get it into my diet.
But kale is still kale - no matter what you do to it.
Therefore it is still gross, and I will not eat it.

I even tried '1/4 Kale Slaw' a couple of times (1/ kale 3/4 cabbage) -
with different ingredients to try to make it edible - but nope -
still bitter and gross - Blech...

[GaltAdonis]

That was supposed to be - '1/4 kale 3/4 cabbage'.

[MayflowerMadam]

“Other green things? Brussel Sprouts, spinaches, and you know what they all have in common? They’re great with bacon.”

After roasting Brussels sprounts, I pour a mixture of melted butter, garlic and bacon over it. Yum.

[MayflowerMadam]

I wonder if it lines other areas that might help protect from UTIs.