A variety of broccoli assumes cholesterol lowering property

New Broccoli is New Statin

New Delhi, April 10: There is a new value addition on broccoli, a cabbage family fiber vegetable and a very important one at that.

It has assumed the quality of lowering bad cholesterol, which is very bad for heart. The new found value is what makes it a new statin, drug that is prescribed to lower bad cholesterol

It has been named Benforte, which also sounds like some drug. British supermarkets have already started to sell it.

A new study, appearing in the latest edition of journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, showcases th new variety of broccoli, which if included in the diet can bust bad cholesterol. Its already anti cancer quality coupled with its anti bad cholesterol quality makes Broccoli a very sought after item on high health table.

The study has found that the new variety of broccoli reduces levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in blood around 6 percent.  The new breed broccoli contains two to three times more of a naturally occurring compound glucoraphanin, which is known for cholesterol lowering property.

Charlotte Armah, the lead author, from Institute of Food Research in Britain, says, ‘Evidence from two independent human studies indicates that consumption of high glucoraphanin broccoli significantly reduces plasma LDL-C (Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol).’

LDL cholesterol in excess is a recognized risk factor for heart disease. The researchers involved 130 volunteers, giving 400g of the new variety broccoli per week to include in their normal diet. After 12 weeks, they found the levels of LDL-cholesterol in their blood dip by an average of about 6 percent. The glucoraphanin-rich broccoli was developed by using traditional breeding techniques.