If Mom Eats Sprouts, It May Help Baby’s Heart
Eating broccoli sprouts while pregnant might help save your child from heart disease later in life. That’s the intriguing conclusion of a new Canadian study.
The offspring of animals fed broccoli sprouts while pregnant had lower blood pressure and less inflammation as adults. The changes were permanent and profound.
Human studies are planned. Meanwhile, this study’s lead researcher says an effective amount for humans likely would be 7 ounces of sprouts, three times a week during pregnancy.
Why the veggie is so effective: Broccoli’s key antioxidant, sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS), is up to 50 times more concentrated in sprouts than it is in mature broccoli.
This EatSmart column is reprinted from USAWEEKEND Magazine and is copyrighted by Jean Carper. It cannot be reprinted without permission from Jean Carper.
