| It seems Mom was right. Eating your vegetables | | | | which contributes to the aging and disease process. |
| actually have more far reaching effects than even | | | | Scientists have for some time now been trying to |
| Mom knew. | | | | understand the alkaline buffering system and how it |
| Recently, researchers at UCLA found a chemical in | | | | is impacted by antioxidant activity and how it is |
| broccoli and other members of the cabbage family | | | | affected by aging. The keys came in the UCLA study |
| that may help keep the body more alkaline, especially | | | | where they found that sulforaphane in broccoli |
| as we age. Our body pH seems to drop as we get | | | | boosted immune cell function in old mice. These old |
| older, which can spell inflammation, discomfort, illness | | | | duffers improved their immune function to the same |
| and disease as we age. | | | | degree that was found in young mice. |
| The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology reports | | | | A protein called Nrf2 which acts as a master switch in |
| the study that shows a plant chemical called | | | | the body's immune and antioxidant/anti-aging tool box |
| sulforaphane has a switching action that turns on a | | | | was found to be stimulated into turning on by |
| group of antioxidant/anti-aging genes which can | | | | sulforaphane. When Nrf2 is turns on, it also switches |
| mediate dietary and metabolic acids, the precursors | | | | on hundreds of compounds that regulate antioxidant |
| to disease. The process turns on the alkaline | | | | activity, inflammatory and aging responses in addition |
| buffering capabilities in specific types of immune cells. | | | | to immune system activity and the alkaline buffering |
| This in turn works to raise the pH of the body | | | | mechanisms. |
| terrain. | | | | As a body gets older, Nrf2 activity begins to decline |
| Metabolic and dietary acids are normal by-products of | | | | although the pathways remain accessible. When |
| food processing, digestion and metabolism. The end | | | | sulforaphane is introduced to the body, it begins to |
| result of burning digested food components as fuel | | | | repair some of the effects of aging by activating |
| and turning it into electrical energy produces wastes | | | | vital pathways for anti-aging and antioxidant activity. |
| that are acidic in pH. How acidic they are will depend | | | | Scientists already know the value of dietary |
| on what they types of food you eat. Acids can also | | | | antioxidants to reduce inflammation and repair free |
| enter the body through polluted air we breathe and | | | | radical damage. Antioxidants also have a profound |
| treated and chlorinated water we drink and bathe in. | | | | effect on immune function. Because of the benefits |
| Antioxidant/anti-aging pathways are part of the | | | | of broccoli and broccoli sprouts to improve alkalinity, |
| body's defense system that can be overwhelmed by | | | | boost immune function and repair free radical |
| too many acidic components in the body. This | | | | damage, they, and other cruciferous vegetables may |
| pathway system plays an important role in immune | | | | be added to the antioxidant list. Sulforaphane has |
| response and in restoring the body's naturally slightly | | | | been found to be so powerful that its multi-action |
| alkaline nature. Dietary and metabolic acids play a | | | | may actually convince you to eat your broccoli |
| significant role in promoting free radical damage, | | | | instead of trying to hide it under your plate. |