Eating Fibrous Vegetables Like Broccoli Regularly May Ward off Gut Problems: Study

Have you been suffering from digestive problems like a leaky gut or colitis? Looks like there is an effective solution to it; according to the study published in the journal of Functional Foods, consuming three and a half cups of a fibrous vegetable with many nutrients, like broccoli each day may help maintain a healthy gut. Good intestinal barrier function means that the gastrointestinal tract is helping protect the intestines from toxins and harmful micro-organisms, while allowing nutrients to pass into the system.

The study suggests that vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts and cabbage contain an organic chemical compound that further maintains a healthy gut flora and immune surveillance. "There are a lot of reasons we want to explore helping with gastrointestinal health and one reason is if you have problems, like a leaky gut, and start to suffer inflammation, that may then lead to other conditions, like arthritis and heart disease," said Gary Perdew, Professor at the Pennsylvania State University in the US. "Keeping your gut healthy and making sure you have good barrier functions so you're not getting this leaky effect would be really big," he added.

Moreover, the research said, broccoli may also help prevent cancerous diseases and Crohn's disease that is caused by inflammation in the lining of the gut. The researchers performed a study on mice, which showed that mice with a broccoli-supplemented diet were better able to tolerate digestive issues similar to symptoms of leaky gut and colitis than those without it.

Previous studies have also shown that broccoli may also help regulate diabetes and reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

With Inputs from IANS