This entry is submitted by Gloria Gamat, via Creative Reporter.An animal study suggests that eating 200 grams of broccoli sprouts every other day during pregnancy could protect the next generation from heart disease:

Broccoli sprouts have previously been shown to reduce blood pressure in rats with hypertension due to the presence of a compound called glucoraphanin (Grn+). Sprouts are the richest source of Grn+, containing up to 50 times more than mature broccoli.

The research, published on-line in the journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (doi:10.1096/fj.05-4889fje), used spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats and showed that adult offspring also benefited from the effects, even if they hadn't even eaten a sprout.

Glucoraphanin, also known as sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS), is the precursor of sulforaphane, which works by inducing the body's natural Phase 2 enzyme antioxidant defences.

The researchers are planning human trials in the near future. If the effects are reproducible in humans then by adding 200 grams of sprouts three times a week could ease the long term burden of cardiovascular disease.

I wonder if pregnant women will ever crave for broccoli sprouts? I certainly won't be.

[Ed: Broccoli sprouts have also been touted to be effective against cancer prevention: "The Broccoli Sprouts Breakthrough: The New Miracle Food for Cancer Prevention" is available from Amazon.]

About Gloria Gamat: Gloria is a proud single-mom to Raine (Rainier Brando: born 29 December 2002) and a Chemist. Gloria also blogs about motherhood at EMothersOnline and about life and travel in the Philippines at The Philippine Culture Blog and at Pinoy Travel Blog respectively.