Posted on 08/17/2023 3:48:58 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Researchers have found that molecules in vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower help to maintain a healthy barrier in the lung and ease infection.
The AHR—aryl hydrocarbon receptor—is a protein found at barrier sites like the gut and the lung. Natural molecules in cruciferous vegetables—for example, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, or cabbage—are dietary 'ligands' for AHR, which means, once eaten, they activate AHR.
This research now shows that AHR is highly active in endothelial cells lining blood vessels in the lung.
The researchers conducted a series of experiments in mice to show how AHR impacts lung barriers. When mice were infected with the flu virus, blood was found in the airspaces in the lungs, as it had leaked across the damaged barrier. The researchers then showed that AHR was able to prevent the barrier from becoming leaky: when AHR was overactivated they observed less blood in the lung spaces.
They also found that mice with enhanced AHR activity didn't lose as much weight when infected with flu, and were able to better fight off a bacterial infection on top of the original virus.
It was beneficial for mice to be on an AHR ligand-rich diet: these mice had better barrier integrity and less lung damage during infection than mice on the control diet. These results indicate that AHR has a protective effect on the lung barrier which is impacted by infection, but can be improved by the right diet.
Researchers believe AHR may be important in endothelial cells in other barrier organs. A team at MRC and Imperial have reported that dietary factors activate AHR in the gut endothelial cells, preventing excessive cell reproduction and inflammation.
Similar to the process in the lung, the authors show gut endothelial AHR is important in protection against gut infection.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I’m going to live to be as old as Methuselah! :)
Loves me some broccoli and cauliflower!
Must include brussel sprouts, right? I’ve been using them in place of lettuce. Raw, slice really thin. Yum.
I’m growing six plants this season. My SIL and I are the only ones in the family that like them, so they are all ours. :)
I like them halved and then roasted with EVOO, crumbled bacon and pepper. As you said, YUM! :)
Don’t forget the balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze!
(Sauerkraut! :)
How could I have forgotten THAT? :)
Cruciferous vegetables:
cauliflower, cabbage, kale, garden cress, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, mustard plant and similar green leaf vegetables.
... help to ease lung infection...
Of course they do! You find yourself holding your breath....................
CDC will ban them. MSM will chime in saying that benefits from eating vegetables has been “debunked”.
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