What is Sulforaphane?
Sulforaphane (SGS) is a natural substance found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, bok choy, and kale. The highest levels of food are found in young broccoli sprouts. SGS has been found to aid in preventing and treating a wide variety of unhealthy cell growth in test tube research. It can also help treat H. pylori infections and prevent damage to the blood vessels caused by poor blood sugar control in diabetics.
Key Health Benefits of Sulforaphane
Cellular Antioxidant
Oxidative stress from free radicals is one of the major causes of everyday damage to our body cells. SGS has been shown to interact with a certain cell-signalling molecule, which triggers an important antioxidant response by the cell. When exposed to SGS, the cell increases its cellular detoxification, which helps to protect the cell against oxidative stress. This indirect antioxidant ability helps to protect the cells against normal oxidative injury caused by exposure to the free radicals from sunlight, pollution, and toxins. It is this exposure that causes the physical signs of aging and can contribute to the initiation of unhealthy cell growth.
DNA Protector
SGS has been shown to directly block the ability of known carcinogens to interact with DNA. It protects cellular DNA against damage from these chemicals and also changes DNA structure to reduce the risk of mutations. DNA left unprotected is vulnerable to mutations that can combine and lead to unhealthy cell formation. Thus, SGS can potentially help to prevent this before it starts.
Healthy Cell Support
In addition to protecting the cells and cellular DNA from the damage that causes mutated cells, SGS can also help the body to destroy cells that are already damaged. It has been shown to stop the growth of unhealthy cells in low doses and promote their cell suicide (apoptosis) when taken in higher doses. These effects have been seen in a number of different cell types in test tubes, including breast, bone, oral, prostate, pancreatic, multiple myeloma, cervical, colon, lung, ovarian, and adenocarcinoma. It has also been found to inhibit the cell signaling pathways responsible for the invasion of certain mutated cells, the process responsible for metastasis. Thus, SGS can directly inhibit unhealthy cell development, growth, and metastasis in a variety of different cell types.
Interestingly, SGS can do more than just prevent the formation of unhealthy cells; it can also support our current medical treatment options. This supplement has been found to potentiate certain chemotherapeutic drugs to increase their effect.
H. Pylori and Stomach Inflammation
SGS has also been found to help destroy the bacteria called H. pylori, which causes some gastric ulcers and SGS can also help to reduce the gastric irritation that infection causes. This can help protect against the formation of stomach ulcers and can help prevent the eventual instigation of stomach cell mutation.
Diabetic Complications
It is not only beneficial in healthy cell management, but SGS can also help to protect against the damage caused by high blood sugar in diabetics. It has been found to protect against oxidation and metabolic dysfunction caused by high blood sugar levels and in the lining of the blood vessels of diabetics. This could help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and circulatory problems in those suffering from diabetes.
Shopping For Quality Sulforaphane Supplements
Directly eating broccoli sprouts is an excellent way to take in SGS, as it also provides a number of other vitamins and nutrients. Eating other food sources is generally a good idea for health, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and bok choy. Sulforaphane is also available in capsules alone or in combination formulas for detoxification, unhealthy cell growth treatment and prevention. Because nearly all of the current research on SGS has been done in test tubes or in animal models, there is no established dose for supplementation in humans. Because of this, it is suggested that you take the dose recommended on the label by the manufacturer.
