As previously mentioned, eating healthy has been established, and a diet that has an abundance of fruits and vegetables may offer you some protection against certain types of cancer. Here Zoey Sky, NaturalNews.com, reflects on sulforaphane-rich vegetables consumption lowering blood sugar levels of diabetics:

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“Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli sprouts contain sulforaphane, a natural plant compound that offers several health benefits. According to a study, this unique compound can be used to naturally lower the blood glucose levels of individuals with Type 2 diabetes.

The study, which was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, was conducted by researchers from the Lund University Diabetes Centre (LUDC) in Sweden.

What is sulforaphane?

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Sulforaphane is a sulfur-rich compound found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage. However, in these vegetables, the compound comes in the inactive form glucoraphanin that belongs to the glucosinolate family of plant compounds.

Sulforaphane is activated when glucoraphanin comes into contact with a family of enzymes called myrosinase. These enzymes, which are involved in the defense response of plants, are only released and activated when a plant is damaged. This means cruciferous vegetables need to cut, chopped, or chewed to release myrosinase and activate sulforaphane.

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Raw vegetables are full of sulforaphane. According to a study, raw broccoli had ten times more sulforaphane than cooked broccoli. To optimize sulforaphane levels when cooking, steam vegetables for only one to three minutes.

Always cook cruciferous vegetables below 284 degrees Fahrenheit (140 degrees Celsius). Exceeding this temperature may decrease the levels of glucosinolates such as glucoraphanin, so don’t boil or microwave cruciferous vegetables. Eat these foods raw or lightly steamed to maximize their sulforaphane content.

Sulforaphane and fasting blood glucose levels

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In the LUDC study, Annika Axelsson and her colleagues first observed the effects of sulforaphane on rats. The researchers noted that once the compound was applied to cultured liver cells, sulforaphane reduced the production of glucose. After the compound was administered to rats with Type 2 diabetes, the compound helped improve liver gene expression and shifted it to a healthier state.

The test results suggest that sulforaphane helped lower the amount of glucose produced by cultured liver cells. The compound also helped reverse abnormal gene expression in the rat livers.

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Once the animal study concluded, the LUDC researchers then observed the effects of broccoli sprout extract on 97 obese participants with Type 2 diabetes. The volunteers had poor control of their blood glucose levels. The extract was administered in a powdered form that had 100 times the amount of sulforaphane is found in broccoli.

The individuals who were given broccoli extract “showed a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose levels compared to those who didn’t consume it.” The fasting blood glucose in the participants given the extract was reduced by 10 percent, unlike the individuals in the other group.”

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Read More … Article Source: https://www.naturalnews.com/2019-03-28-vegetables-rich-in-sulforaphane-lower-blood-sugar-in-diabetics.html

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