Can These Green Vegetables Really Lower Your Diabetes Risk?

A recent study has revealed a promising — and entirely natural — approach to preventing Type 2 diabetes. Researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden found that a compound naturally present in broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower can significantly lower blood sugar levels, particularly in individuals who are pre-diabetic. Yes, the vegetables many of us pushed around our plates as children may actually have been doing us a favor.

The study followed 74 adults aged 35–75 with elevated blood sugar levels classified as pre-diabetic. Participants were split into two groups: one received a sulforaphane supplement — the active compound found in cruciferous vegetables — while the other received a placebo. After 12 weeks, the sulforaphane group experienced a substantial reduction in blood sugar levels compared with the control group.

One of the study’s most intriguing findings was that sulforaphane’s benefits were especially pronounced in individuals with certain physiological characteristics, such as a lower body mass index and reduced insulin secretion. Researchers also discovered that gut bacteria plays a crucial role in determining how effective the compound is; participants with higher levels of a specific bacterial gene showed a more dramatic drop in blood sugar levels. Sometimes, it seems, your microbiome knows what’s good for you before you do.

Professor Anders Rosengren, one of the study's authors, explained: “Although lifestyle factors like a healthy diet and physical activity remain the cornerstone of diabetes prevention, our findings suggest an additional natural strategy that could support those at higher risk.”

Public health experts agree that these results may pave the way for targeted, personalized treatments in the future — though they emphasize that further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of sulforaphane.

For now, the takeaway is refreshingly simple: incorporating broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts into your daily diet may not only improve overall health but also help reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Suddenly, those cruciferous veggies are looking a lot more appealing.

Just one friendly reminder: these vegetables are notorious for harboring insects and are known to be highly infested. To keep things both halachically sound and healthy, be sure to use properly certified kosher produce or follow the required checking and cleaning guidelines — as consuming bugs is strictly forbidden.