Broccoli's Hidden Power: A Natural Ally Against Stroke

Could there be hope on the horizon for heart patients? Annually, around 15 million people worldwide suffer from a stroke, a cardiovascular event occurring when blood and oxygen cannot reach the brain, God forbid. 

The main treatment options for such patients typically include medications to break down blood clots, like aspirin, which prevent blood from reaching the brain or stopping blood leakage to the brain. Until now, scientists have estimated that only about 10% of stroke survivors completely recover. Others are left with impairments and disabilities in their daily functions. However, researchers from the Heart Research Institute in New South Wales, Australia, have found that a natural chemical found in broccoli may aid in both the prevention and treatment of strokes. 

The study was recently published in the journal American Chemical Society's ACS Central Science.

"Stroke imposes a significant economic burden on the healthcare system, costing the U.S. approximately $34 billion annually," says Dr. Johnny Liu, a leading researcher in the cardiovascular signaling unit at the Heart Research Institute, Australia. 

In an interview with Medical News Today, Dr. Liu, who spearheaded the vital broccoli research, explained that the compound they developed, derived from broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, provides the body with substances called isothiocyanates - known for their chemopreventive properties and neuroprotective benefits. "This knowledge piqued our curiosity about whether these natural gifts in cruciferous vegetables could also aid in stroke treatment, and indeed, we found the compounds in broccoli to be excellent for safe and effective blood thinning."

Dr. Liu also references a study published in 2018. "Even then, it was found that controlled consumption of cruciferous vegetables could help prevent atherosclerosis or alleviate clogged arteries, which are a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases," he concludes.