Some of you may not like this, but scientists discovered one more reason to eat a lot of broccoli. This vegetable contains an effective antioxidant, called sulforaphane. The antioxidant is able to reduce the blood sugar levels, so that makes it an adequate way to fight diabetes type 2.
Diabetes type 2 affect middle aged and obese people. The insulin controls the blood sugar levels. So, when a human body does not give a response to insulin, that leads to abnormal insulin regulation. This results in increase blood sugar levels that may cause kidney issues, heart attacks, even blindness.
Nowadays, 300 million of people around the world suffer from diabetes type 2. One of the treatments for this type of diabetes is metformin. However, many people cannot take this remedy because of kidney problems.
Also, there are several side-effects that affect about 30% of people. The negative consequences are bloating, pain in the abdomen, nausea, or diarrhea.
Broccoli as a Treatment?
According to Annika Axelson and her colleagues from Gothenburg University, sulforaphane is the only substance out of 2800 investigated, that proved to affect diabetes. They did another testing that included rodents being given the sulforaphane for 4 weeks.
The results showed that their blood sugar levels were 23% lower than before. It was compared with the rodents that took metformin and had 24% lower blood sugar levels.
Since the researchers got positive results, they made tests on people. It was a study that lasted 12 weeks. It involved 97 patients suffering from diabetes type 2, and they got sulforaphane in the form of powdered broccoli.
Only 3 patients got metformin. The results showed that sulforaphane mostly impacted the obese patients. Also, the results fulfilled the target of 7% of the American Diabetes Association.
Although both metformin and sulforaphane have an impact on lowering the blood sugar, they do it differently. Cells become more sensitive due to metformin, so they get rid of more sugar. On the other hand, sulforaphane lowers the blood sugar by restraining the liver enzymes which provoke the creation of glucose.
After all, the good news of sulforaphane being an excellent way of treating diabetes does not mean that people should eat as much as they can. Humans should take a good care of their health by consuming healthy food and lead a proper life.
Note: If you have diabetes type 2, first consult your doctor before making any changes in your lifestyle.
Sources: New Scientist, New Atlas
