Cancer-fighting superbroccoli goes on sale
Move over blueberries, there's a new superfood in town... and this one's got special powers. Broccoli has always been packed full of healthy nutrients but now its natural goodness has been given a boost.
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Beneforte, a new breed of broccoli developed by the Institute of Food Research and the John Innes Centre, looks just like your average sprig but contains three times the amount of a disease-fighting compound.
The health-boosting nutrient glucoraphanin, found within broccoli, has been shown by researchers to help protect against heart disease and some cancers, notably bowel and prostate cancer.
Once inside the gut, glucoraphanin is converted into the compound sulphoraphane which, in turn, is thought to reduce the inflammation commonly associated with heart attacks, and stop uncontrolled cell division, thereby helping to battle early-stage cancer, as well as boosting antioxidant levels.
So it's easy to see why researchers are excited about Beneforte, which is said to raise sulphoraphane levels to up to four times that of the standard variety.
Professor Richard Mithen, from the John Innes Centre, said: "Our research has given new insights into the role of such vegetables for health and can lead to potentially more nutritious varieties of our familiar vegetables."
The 'superbroccoli' goes on sale in Marks & Spencer today, priced at a hefty £1.99 a pack, but is expected to hit other stores next year.
What do you think - will you be splashing out on superbroccoli? Leave your comments below...
