Think about your last few doctor’s appointments…
How many times did your physician actually sit down and talk with you about the best ways to prevent getting sick in the first place?
I’m willing to bet it didn’t happen even once.
Most conventional doctors never talk about prevention. Probably because it’s not something they’re taught to do in medical school. Or maybe they simply can’t take the time…
Today’s doctors wait until you get sick. Then they dash off a series of prescriptions for drugs that are loaded with side effects.
I’d rather talk to patients about preventing disease in the first place using simple, effective methods everyone can easily do.
Take sulforaphane, for example. It’s finally getting the respect it deserves as a major disease-preventer.
Sulforaphane is the primary health-boosting compound in cruciferous vegetables.
It’s like a natural first-aid kit that defends your cells against a host of enemies. Let me show you how it works….
Activate Your “Fountain of Youth” Pathway
Cruciferous vegetables store an enzyme called myrosinase, as well as a precursor compound called glucoraphanin in separate cellular chambers.
These two disease-preventing molecules only mix after the plant is cut or torn. But once they’re released, they combine to form a powerful, all-purpose healer called sulforaphane.
Sulforaphane, in turn, activates your body’s “fountain of youth” pathway to reduce the top three causes of mortality – heart disease, cancer, and dementia:
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- Heart disease – As a regular reader, you already know cruciferous veggies protect you from estrogen-mimicking hormone disruptors283283. But sulforaphane has a different mechanism altogether. It activates Nrf2 (nuclear-factor erythroid 2-related factor), a key resource your body uses to keep inflammation in check.1 It also neutralizes nuclear factor kappa beta (NFKB), a major cause of systemic inflammation.2 By dramatically dousing the fires of inflammation, sulforaphane lowers blood pressure and protects your heart.3
- Cancer – About 4 in 10 U.S. adults will develop cancer at some point in their lives. But sulforaphane’s ability to supercharge Nrf2 slams the brakes on cancer. Nrf2 activates the expression of over 200 genes linked to antioxidant function. This protects DNA from the mutations that lead to cancer. It also inhibits the breakdown of P53, the body’s premier tumor-suppressing protein.4 One study found that eating three to five servings of sulforaphane vegetables a week cuts your risk of cancer by 40%.5
- Dementia – When combined with a newly discovered brain booster called fisetin462462, just one week of sulforaphane supplementation increases levels of the powerful antioxidant glutathione. This increase occurs right where your brain needs it most – in the hippocampus region linked to memory. Several studies show it substantially reduces your risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.6 And it’s so effective, it’s even been used to treat autism-spectrum disorders.7
Here’s my advice on the best way to get more sulforaphane….
Sulforaphane Gives Up Its Secrets
Most studies rely on broccoli sprouts. But the sprouts you find in supermarkets can be contaminated with E. coli or salmonella. Growing sprouts from seeds can be time consuming, and you need to grow enough to consume two to four ounces daily.
Alternatively, you can always eat more cruciferous vegetables. But be sure to:
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- Shop organic. This is quite important, because you need to reduce your exposure to the pesticides and other toxins that are wreaking such havoc on human health in the first place.
- Maximize sulforaphane content. After you wash and chop your cruciferous veggies, let them sit for 60 to 90 minutes before cooking. Sulforaphane’s two precursors, myrosinase and glucoraphanin, only begin to produce sulforaphane after the plant is damaged. By waiting at least one hour before cooking, you give sulforaphane levels time to build.
- Steam, don’t boil or pressure cook. It’s good advice for any produce. But it’s absolutely essential for sulforaphane… because heat destroys myrosinase and sulforaphane levels plummet.
Use This Kind Of Supplement For Best Results
It’s not easy to get all the sulforaphane you need from food. But unfortunately, most supplements aren’t very effective. Digestion breaks them down before they can generate sulforaphane.
I recommend “stabilized sulforaphane” supplements. They do a better job of getting sulforaphane into your body and where it’s needed. You need about 20 mg daily.
Some stabilized formulations also include other broccoli extracts, as well. This provides multiple ways to get the full range of benefits.
References:
1. Kim J and Park S. “Current Potential Health Benefits of Sulforaphane,” EXCLI J. 2016.15;571-577.
2. Kresser, C. “The Powerful Health Benefits of Sulforaphane.” Revolution Health Radio. 6 July 2021. Accessed 25 Aug. 2021.
3. Noyan-Ashraf M, et al. “Dietary Approaches to Positively Influence Fetal Determinants of Adult Health.” FASEB J. 2006 Feb;20(2):371-3.
4. Bayat Mokhtari R, et al. “The Role of Sulforaphane in Cancer Chemoprevention and Health Benefits: A Mini-Review.” J Cell Commun Signal. 2018 Mar;12(1):91-101. doi: 10.1007/s12079-017-0401-y. Epub 2017 Jul 23.
5. Dalessandri KM, et al. “Pilot study: effect of 3,3′-diindolylmethane supplements on urinary hormone metabolites in postmenopausal women with a history of early-stage breast cancer.” Nutr Cancer. 2004;50:161–7.
6. Zhang F. “Sulforaphane Protects against Brain Diseases: Roles of Cytoprotective Enzymes.” Austin J Cerebrovasc Dis Stroke. 2017;4(1):1054.
7. McGuinness G and Yeonsoo K. “Sulforaphane Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review.” EXCLI Journal. 2020; 19: 892–903.