British scientists have developed a new type of broccoli which has the potential to prevent life-threatening illnesses. Known as Beneforte, this ‘super vege’ contains heightened levels of glucoraphanin – a chemical that studies suggest can protect the body from heart disease, and even cancer.
Glucoraphanin is converted by the body into a compound called sulphoraphane; which has many benefits including the ability to boost antioxidants, stop uncontrolled cell division and reduce inflammation.
Glucoraphanin is naturally found in plants; however levels of this chemical are two to three times higher in Beneforte than in regular broccoli, and as such can raise a person’s sulphoraphane levels as much as four times the norm.
Beneforte was developed by scientists at the Institute of Food Research and the John Innes Centre, both in Norwich, by cross-breeding a high-glucoraphanin variety of wild broccoli with a regular one. It is currently being sold at Marks & Spencer stores, with other supermarkets to follow suit next year.
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