This One Vegetable Helps To Keep Your Gut Healthy

Having a healthy gut is very important in order to have a good digestive system. The food that we eat plays a very important role not just for your digestive system but for your overall health as well.

So if your are suffering from digestive problems like leaky gut and colitis then consuming three and a half cups of a fibrous vegetable with many nutrients, like broccoli, each day may help maintain a healthy gut, a new study has suggested.

The study was recently published in the journal of Functional Foods.

Good intestinal barrier function means that the gastrointestinal tract is helping protect the intestines from toxins and harmful microorganisms, while allowing nutrients to pass into the system.

According to the study, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts and cabbage contain an organic chemical compound that further maintains a healthy gut flora and immune surveillance.

"There are a lot of reasons we want to explore helping with gastrointestinal health and one reason is if you have problems, like a leaky gut, and start to suffer inflammation, that may then lead to other conditiotivens, like arthritis and heart disease," said Gary Perdew, Professor at the Pennsylvania State University in the US.

In addition, broccoli may also help prevent cancerous diseases and Crohn's Disease, caused by inflammation in the lining of the gut, the researchers suggested.

For the study, the researchers had conducted the test on mice. During the study it was found that the mice with a broccoli-supplemented diet were better able to tolerate digestive issues similar to symptoms of leaky gut and colitis than those without it.

Listed here are a few of the other benefits of broccoli. Check them out.

1. Helps Prevent Cancer:

Broccoli is one of the best known cruciferous vegetable that is known to contain cancer fighting properties and also aids in boosting immune system. It contains properties that help to deplete the oestrogens that are known to cause cancer. Of all the forms of cancer, broccoli helps in preventing breast and uterus cancer.

2. Helps Reduce Cholesterol:

Broccoli is rich in soluble fibre and it helps to remove the cholesterol out. The fibre-rich broccoli helps to bind with bile acids in the digestive tract and aids in the excretion of cholesterol out of our body easy.

3. Boosts Immune System:

Broccoli is rich in vitamin C. It is also enriched with carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene and other power packed antioxidants due to which broccoli is considered as one of the best natural sources for boosting the immune system.

4. Good For The Bones:

Rich in calcium, vitamin K and other essential nutrients like magnesium, zinc and phosphorous, broccoli is good for bones and help prevent osteoporosis. Broccoli is considered good for all age group of people.

5. Good For Heart:

Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, broccoli helps to prevent the damage of blood vessel linings. Due to its rich fibre content and other essential nutrients like vitamins, broccoli is considered good for the heart and helps regulate blood pressure in the body.