Broccoli helps prevent heart attacks, says study

Eating broccoli could reduce your chances of suffering from heart disease, a US study has revealed.

Researchers at the University of Connecticut believe the vegetable triggers a production of proteins which can protect the heart from damage.

The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry study found that rats who were fed broccoli for a month developed healthier and stronger hearts than those on a normal diet.

The scientists put this down to the incredible effect broccoli has on inducing the production of thioredoxin, a protein which helps protect aganst cell damage in the heart. They have not tested their theory on humans yet.

However, for the full positive effect, experts recommend steaming it rather than boiling it.

Speaking on the BBC News website, Professor Dipak Das said: “If broccoli is over-cooked, it loses a lot of its protective effect.”

It is not the first time that scientists have examined the health benefits of broccoli. Last August, research into the vegetable also found that it could help in the prevention of prostate cancer.