Veggie Power
Spraying broccoli with a plant hormone adds to its cancer-fighting properties, according to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry.
Glucosinolates in broccoli and the substances left behind when glucosinolates are broken down can boost levels of an enzyme that helps rid the body of carcinogens.
One way to increase glucosinolates in broccoli? Spray it with methyl jasmonate, a natural plant hormone, which also protects the plants against pests. Researchers tested five types of broccoli by spraying them in the field with the hormone and found that, of the glucosinolates break-down products, sulforaphane is the major contributor toward enhanced cancer-fighting enzyme levels, though other substances also likely contribute. Consuming broccoli regularly has been linked to lower rates of prostate, colon, breast, lung and skin cancers.
Something Fishy
In a study published in Maternal and Child Nutrition, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that many children under the age of 5 have a deficiency in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs). Fish is an excellent source of fatty acids and was shown to be the richest source of PUFAs in a diet, but only 54 percent of children in the study ate fish at least once in the previous month. These fatty acids play a key role in cell function, inflammation, eye development and neural functioning. The ideal dietary intake for children is unclear, but it has been found that infants often receive significant and sufficient amounts of key PUFAs through breast milk and infant formula during the first year of life. Making sure toddlers and preschoolers, with their picky palates, get enough PUFAs is a challenge for parents.
Daddy Diet
Science has long recognized the link between maternal diets and the health of their children – especially regarding folate, low levels of which have been linked to miscarriages and birth defects. But a recent study shows Dad’s folate levels matter, too.
In a study published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers found a link between a paternal diet low in folate and increased rate of birth defects in mice. Low folate levels were associated with lower pregnancy rates and higher rates of birth anomalies, including spinal malformations, cranio-facial defects such as a shortened jaw, and underdeveloped digits and club feet. Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is sometimes added to enriched food, but can be found naturally in lentils, spinach, asparagus, avocado and broccoli.
