This is the conclusion reached by American scientistsas a result of experiments on rats, the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reports. The study's leader, Professor Dipak Das, and his colleagues from the University of Connecticut fed laboratory rats broccoli extract for a month. After this period, they examined the work of the hearts of the experimental animals, comparing the results with the control group of animals that received regular food. It turned out that the hearts of the rats that received broccoli functioned better and were more resistant to hypoxia - a lack of oxygen that leads to the development of a heart attack. According to the researchers, the protective effect of broccoli is explained by the high content of certain substances, in particular sulforaphane, which stimulate the formation of thioredoxin. This protein plays an important role in protecting cells in conditions of impaired blood supply to the heart muscle. The protective effect of broccoli is not limited to the prevention of heart disease. Earlier studies have shown that this cabbage reduces the likelihood of developing breast and prostate cancer. According to Das, steamed cabbage has the greatest protective effect. "When boiled for a long time, broccoli loses most of its beneficial properties," the scientist noted.
