Eat Your Sprouts

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George H. W. Bush's aversion to broccoli notwithstanding, scientists have known for years that eating the bushy green vegetable can lower your risk for certain cancers. Now a new study shows that broccoli — and even more so, broccoli sprouts — may also cut your risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and stroke. Sprouts are particularly rich in glucoraphanin, one of a class of substances that work indirectly as antioxidants by boosting the body's antioxidant defense systems. Scientists at the University of Saskatchewan fed glucoraphanin-laden sprouts to lab rats prone to high blood pressure and stroke. After 14 weeks the animals had stronger antioxidant defenses, less inflammation, lower blood pressure and generally improved cardiovascular health.