According to reports,some researchers under the leadership of Professor Paul Thornalley have found that broccoli can potentially reduce as well as reverse the heart damage that can be caused by diabetes.Broccoli contains a compound called ‘sulforaphane‘ which activates protective antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes which in turn protects the blood vessels from damage.

People with diabetes are at greater risk of developing cardiac problem and stroke on account of damage to blood vessels which results from having about three times the normal level of circulating oxidative molecules called Reactive Oxygen Species caused by high blood sugar.

This concusion actually followed a complex laboratory study in which sulforaphane was directly applied to blood vessels that had been damaged by high blood sugar levels. It was reported that,”The compound reduced the production of potentially damaging molecules called reactive oxygen species.”

However,the results are not conclusive as yet. Application of the compound ‘sulforaphanein’ found in broccoli to cells in the laboratory and eating broccoli may not produce the same result. Besides,the research was not conducted on a diabetic person’s blood vessel.The researchers are determining if the effects of ‘sulforaphane‘ on the blood vessels of a diabetic person will be beneficial or not.