Where Did The Story Come From
The study was carried out by researchers from the University of East Anglia, the University of Oxford, and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. It was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council , Dunhill Medical Trust and Arthritis Research UK.
The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal, Arthritis and Rheumatism.
It was covered widely in the media, with many sources overplaying its results. Broccoli has not yet been found to be “key to beating “, as claimed in the Daily Express. BBC News took a more cautious approach, however, reporting that researchers believe broccoli may slow down arthritis.
Bonus: It Helps Osteoarthritis As Well
When compared with RA, osteoarthritis is less about the autoimmune component and more about the cartilage destruction. Well, guess what?
Studies have confirmed in various osteoarthritis models that sulforaphane significantly reduces the destruction of joints by blocking key molecular pathways involved in the condition!
It also helps to strengthen the bones and prevent gait anomalies that may result from osteoarthritis.
Vitamin D During Pregnancy
Weve also funded a trial that showed that taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy improved the bone mass of babies born during the winter the time of year when vitamin D levels are naturally lower.
As a follow up to this, were funding another study to find out whether this increased bone mass continues into childhood. If successful, this could lead to further discoveries in how diet and physical activity affect bone mass in children and could help make a case for taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy.
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How Sulforaphane Heals Your Joints
Now heres an alternative to consider: Studies indicate that after you consume high glucosinolate broccoli, sulforaphane is detected inside your joints. Effective natural healing, delivered where your body needs it, without any painful and harmful injections whatsoever.
Although broccoli has been found to contain the highest amount of glucoraphanin, there are different varieties of broccoli and not all broccoli will give you the same results.
Some varieties of broccoli have very little glucoraphanin, so you could be eating tons of broccoli sprouts yet you dont get the optimum amount of sulforaphane. Getting a high glucoraphanin content variety of broccoli that is non-GMO is especially important.
What Kind Of Research Was This
This was a laboratory and animal study. Researchers used three models to study the possible effect of the compound sulforaphane on cartilage. Sulforaphane is found in cruciferous vegetables, particularly broccoli.
The researchers say some research suggests a high intake of fruit and vegetables may prevent or slow down osteoarthritis. Sulforaphane has also been reported to:
- have anti-inflammatory properties
- protect against a form of inflammatory arthritis in mice
- reduce the production of enzymes that contribute to the breakdown of cartilage
Their study investigated the impact of sulforaphane on chondrocytes. These are cells that produce and maintain the proteins that form the structure of cartilage in mammals.
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Salmon Tuna Sardines And Mackerel
These fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which studies have found can decrease inflammation. According to the Arthritis Foundation, eating a 3 to 4 ounce serving of these fish two or more times a week is recommended for protecting the heart and reducing inflammation.
While fresh fish can get pricey quickly, one tip to make it more affordable is by looking in the freezer section or buying canned sardines, salmon or tuna. Be sure to choose lower sodium options when purchasing canned items if you need to keep your sodium in check.
Do Any Foods Make Arthritis Worse
Some people feel that certain foods are bad for arthritis and that cutting them out helps with their symptoms. Some of the foods people worry about include:
- citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit
- vegetables from the nightshade family including potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, chillies and aubergines
- gluten, a protein found in pasta, bread and cereals.
Theres no evidence that diets where certain foods are cut out, also known as exclusion or elimination diets, are helpful for people with osteoarthritis. They have been shown to sometimes help people with rheumatoid arthritis, though the food that may cause symptoms is likely to be different for each person.
This could be for a number of reasons, including the person being allergic or intolerant to the food they cut out, rather than being directly related to the arthritis. If healthy foods are not affecting your symptoms, you dont need to cut them out of your diet.
If you want to try cutting certain foods out of your diet to see if it improves your symptoms, the important thing to remember is to speak to a doctor or dietitian first. Theyll be able to support you and make sure youre trying out the change to your diet safely. Some foods are present in things we dont realise, so they can also help make sure you really are cutting out everything you plan to.
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To Manage Osteoarthritis Sip Green Tea
Whether you already have osteoarthritis or are trying to keep your joints supple as long as possible, you may want to ditch your morning cup of coffee for a cup of green tea. According to a 2011 paper published in Arthritis Research & Therapy, epigallocatechin-3-gallate , a polyphenol found in green tea, has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that may help prevent or better manage osteoarthritis.
The authors theorized that green tea could be used alongside drugs prescribed to manage arthritis, either increasing the drugs’ effectiveness or allowing patients to get the same results with a lower dosage. These conclusions, however, are based on studies involving mice, so more research on humans is needed. There may also be other polyphenols in green tea that work together with EGCG to help fight joint inflammation.
Green tea has a number of other scientifically backed health benefits, so drinking it for help with osteoarthritis could lead to other positive changes. The combination of caffeine and potent plant compounds in green tea has been linked to improved brain function, increased fat burning, as well as decreased risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer .
Foods To Eat And 7 To Avoid For Arthritis
If you think arthritis is something you won’t have to worry about until you’re much older, think again. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , 54 million Americans are affected by arthritis, and 60 percent of them are between the ages of 18 to 64. In fact, arthritis is a leading cause of disability, with 8 million adults unable to work because of their arthritis.
While many often think of arthritis as a single condition, it’s actually an umbrella term for a number of conditions affecting the joints. The most common forms include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. According to the CDC, “symptoms of arthritis are pain, aching, stiffness, and swelling in or around the joints.” While symptoms can vary from person to person and day to day, one in four Americans with arthritis experiences severe joint pain. Arthritis often goes hand in hand with other chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes and can make these conditions harder to manage.
Arthritis has many different causes and just as many options for managing symptoms. Diet can play a major role in either minimizing or exacerbating symptoms, so if you have some form of arthritis, it’s important to choose the foods and beverages you consume wisely.
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Could Eating Broccoli Slow The Onset Of Arthritis
“Broccoli could hold the key to preventing painful arthritis,” the Daily Mail reports. But while the study the Mail reports on had promising results, it did not involve humans. The story is based on tests of a compound called sulforaphane on human and cow cartilage cells and artificially induced arthritis in mice.
Cartilage is the protective tissue found on the surface of joints that helps them to move smoothly. Damage and breakdown of cartilage can lead to osteoarthritis, which often causes severe symptoms of joint pain and swelling.
Sulforaphane is found in broccoli, and previous studies have suggested that it might help stop the breakdown of cartilage.
In this study, the researchers found that sulforaphane helped reduce the production of the enzymes that contribute to human cartilage breakdown. It was also found to protect bovine cartilage tissue from damage in the lab. The mice fed a sulforaphane-rich diet also had fewer signs of arthritis in their cartilage than controls.
Researchers now plan to study people with osteoarthritis who are awaiting joint surgery, testing the effects of eating “super broccoli”, specially bred to release large amounts of sulforaphane. The results of this study will better indicate if eating broccoli can have a beneficial effect on osteoarthritis in people.
Get Your Vitamin C From Foods Not Supplements
Vitamin C offers loads of health benefits but, like everything in life, too much can be a bad thing. Most vitamin C supplements contain several times the recommended daily dose, which may exacerbate your arthritis symptoms. For reference, men only need 90 mg/day and women need 75 mg/day.
Most plant-based foods are a great source of vitamin C. Look for ways to add oranges, bell peppers, strawberries, mangos, kidney beans, and pineapple to your diet. And skip the supplement.
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How Can You Get More Of Sulforaphane
Every cruciferous vegetable is a good source of sulforaphane, so make sure to include a lot of them to your diet: cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, everything counts. Raw is best as you need the enzyme myrosinase to react with glucoraphanin to produce sulforaphane. Heat destroys live enzymes.
I get it, that it is impossible to eat enough sulforaphane daily for the purpose of healing arthritis. That is why drinking freshly-extracted juices is the next best thing. Still, how do you get sufficient sulforaphane without getting sick of cruciferous vegetables?
Broccoli sprout juice. According to studies, 3 to 5-day old broccoli sprouts have 10-100 times more glucoraphanin than mature broccoli. This means that in terms of sulforaphane, having just one ounce of broccoli sprouts would be like eating 1.5 pounds of broccoli!
Just take a bunch of broccoli sprouts, combine them with your favorite greens, juice away and get healthy!
Which Foods May Help
Some experts believe that diet can help prevent flare-ups and manage the symptoms of RA. There is no specific diet that research has shown to help people with RA, but some foods may help control the painful swelling and support the immune system.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, many of these foods are part of the Mediterranean diet. They include:
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Could Be Of Benefit To Diabetics
People with diabetes are more aware than most about how foods affect health since they need to keep tight control over their diets. Experiments made with animals indicate that sulforaphane could help to stabilize blood glucose and heightened sensitivity to insulin. Even more encouraging are results from trials done on humans that showed how diabetics Type 2 sufferers who eat broccoli spouts recorded improved responses to insulin and lower blood sugar rates while fasting.
High Quality Sulforaphane Broccoli Sprout Juice > >
Your take home message today: Theres a healthy answer to almost any disease in this world. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, sulforaphane is your best shot!
Some of the links I post on this site are affiliate links. If you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a small commission . However, note that Im recommending these products because of their quality and that I have good experience using them, not because of the commission to be made.
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Broccoli As A Food For Arthritis Treatment
According to a study, foods such as Broccoli, cauliflower, and other cabbage family vegetables are quite promising to prevent your body against the development of arthritis. However, this study observed only the chance of development of arthritis, rather than pain treatment. But, it wouldnt be wrong to include cabbage, Brussels, cauliflower, sprouts, kale, and other cruciferous vegetables in your regular diet.
Suggestions:
- Include broccoli in your daily diet.
- You can also include other cruciferous veggies in your diet.
- Have them cooked or raw.
Food Choices For Patients With Arthritis
Food is medicine. Weve all heard it before, but what does it mean? You cant really treat chronic conditions like arthritis with food. Can you? Are there arthritis foods, things you can eat that cure arthritis?
Unfortunately, no, you cannot cure arthritis not with food and not even with traditional medicine. You can, however, make food choices that help fight inflammation, the main characteristic of arthritis. The right foods also help boost your immune system and strengthen your bones to alleviate the painful symptoms of this chronic disease. Keep reading to discover the best foods to reduce inflammation, plus a few you should avoid.
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Health Benefits Of Eating Broccoli Sprouts
1. A Superfood with Significant Cancer-Fighting Potential
You may have already heard about the potential anti-cancer effects of kale sprouts, but guess what, broccoli sprouts appear to have even more anti-cancer potential! A study funded by Australia’s Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation assessed the anti-cancer potential of a number of Brassica sprouts based on their glucosinolate content, and broccoli sprouts came out on top . While glucosinolates themselves have limited biological activity, their hydrolysis products such as sulforaphane have been shown to possess strong anti-cancer properties.
2. Broccoli Sprout Powder Fights Insulin Resistance in Diabetics
Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are increasingly common in Western countries. In addition to having complications of their own, these metabolic disorders have been linked to numerous other health problems and diseases, including polycystic ovary syndrome and cardiovascular disease . Due to the prevalence and seriousness of these conditions, scientists are constantly looking for new ways to prevent and manage these conditions.
In an Iranian study published in the November 2012 edition of the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 81 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to receive either sulforaphane-rich broccoli sprouts powder or a placebo medication.
3. Broccoli Sprouts Are Good for Your Lungs, Study Suggests
Dont Forget About The Tomatoes
Another vegetable that you definitely want to include in your diet is the tomato. This bright coloredvegetable is another that is full of antioxidants, working in a similar way to peppers.
However, its the tomato juice that is the most effective because of the lycopene. These chemical has been known to reduce lung inflammation, making it easier to breathe and fight off infections. Youll also find that more oxygen getting to your body helps to improve your immune system and reduces some of the unnecessary responses.
When you cook tomatoes you get more lycopene, so you want to opt for tomato sauces where possible. Drinking tomato juice was also proven effective when it came to rheumatoid arthritis studies.
We also cant forget about the levels of vitamin A and C within tomatoes. These vitamins support the immune system and the muscles, fighting against damage to the joints and tissues around the area.
In short, you want to get tomatoes into your diet. It really doesnt matter how, although cooked is better.
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Ginger As A Food For Arthritis
Ginger has been exploited for thousands of years to cure colds, migraines, hypertension and nausea. Although gingers role in arthritis is not proven completely. But, there are some evidence to hold up the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant job of ginger. So, it wouldnt harm to incorporate ginger in your diet,
Directions:
- Just add freshly grated ginger over sautéed vegetables.
- You can even drink 2- 3 cups of ginger tea to avoid arthritis.
- Also, you can sprinkle grounded ginger in baked good batters.
Remember, ginger acts as a blood thinner. This may hinder with your blood thinning medication. So, be aware to consult with your doctors before adding ginger to your diet.
Ginger: Spice Up Your Dishes To Turn Down The Flame
Like onions, ginger contains compounds that function in much the same way as anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. This versatile root adds flavor too. Add fresh peeled ginger to stir-fries, eat pickled ginger along with salmon sushi, or puree some and add it to an acorn squash soup.
Ginger supplements can also help reduce inflammation, but check with your doctor before taking them, Sandon says. Too much ginger can lead to thinning of the blood, which can be dangerous if you are taking certain drugs, like Coumadin . It can also decrease blood sugar levels, raising the risk of hypoglycemia. In addition, ginger may lower blood pressure, which could affect those taking high blood pressure medication.
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Foods That Fight Arthritis
According to the CDC, an estimated 50 million adults in the United States reported being told by a doctor that they have some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia. In addition, arthritis sufferers have significantly worse health related quality of life than those without arthritis. Adults with arthritis report two to four times as many unhealthy days in the past month than those without arthritis.*
Working with their doctors, patients can tailor a complete treatment program for their arthritis. One tool at a patients daily disposal is diet. Several foods have been demonstrated to help ease arthritis pain.
Why they may help: Omega 3s may decrease inflammation by suppressing the production enzymes that erode cartilage.Ideas to try: Seafood salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel, rainbow trout, striped bass and other fish are good sources. Not a seafood fan? Try flaxseed oil, beans, spinach, broccoli or cauliflower.
Extra-virgin olive oil :Why it may help: Contains the good monounsaturated fat, which protects the body against inflammation because it contains antioxidants.Ideas to try: replace butter with EVOO, or try an easy to prepare dish that includes a double dose of omega 3 from fish and olive oil
What are your favorite arthritis-fighting foods?