Broccoli Enzyme May Slow Aging

The enzyme in question is called nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which plays a role in producing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a compound involved in mitochondrial health and energy metabolism.

Previous research has shown that, with age, your body loses its capacity to create NAD — an effect thought to be related to, or the result of, chronic inflammation. Studies have shown that taking NAD directly is ineffective, however, which is what led the researchers to look for a precursor.

Broccoli Provides Many Health Benefits

Broccoli is one of the most widely studied foods, and research has revealed a long list of health benefits associated with this cruciferous vegetable, including a reduced risk for:

Osteoarthritis
Cancer
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Kidney disease
Diabetes
Neurodegenerative diseases
Allergies

Broccoli and other water- and nutrient-rich veggies also support healthy liver function, which in turn promotes optimal functioning of your natural detoxification systems. Broccoli sprouts, in particular, have been shown to help detox environmental pollutants such as benzene

Broccoli — A Good Source of Healthy Fiber

Broccoli contains an array of beneficial compounds, including fiber, which is broken down into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by your gut bacteria. SCFAs, in turn, have been shown to lessen your risk of inflammatory diseases.Your liver converts SCFAs into ketones that nourish your body and perform important signaling functions. Fiber also promotes health by nourishing beneficial gut bacteria, and by activating a gene called T-bet, which is essential for producing immune cells in the lining of your digestive tract.

Health-Promoting Compounds Found in Broccoli

While sulforaphane typically receives the most attention, broccoli also contains a number of other health-promoting compounds, including:

• Glucoraphanin, a glucosinolate precursor of sulforaphane that also influences the process of carcinogenesis and mutagenesis.Compared to mature broccoli, broccoli sprouts can contain up to 20 times more glucoraphanin.

• Phenolic compounds, including flavonoids and phenolic acids, which have a potent ability to eliminate damaging free radicals and quell inflammation, resulting in a lower risk for diseases such as asthma, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

One of the ways phenolic compounds slow the encroachment of disease is by defending against infection, most dramatically by zapping ROS linked to atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

• Diindolylmethane (DIM). Your body produces DIM when it breaks down cruciferous vegetables. Like many other broccoli compounds, DIM has shown multiple potential benefits, including boosting your immune system and helping to prevent or treat cancer.

• Vitamins and minerals. Broccoli has twice the vitamin C of an orange, and almost as much calcium as whole milk (with a better rate of absorption). It also contains folate and iron, and all of these nutrients are important for a healthy pregnancy.