Broccoli May Help Protect Lungs from Lung Disease

Broccoli may help to safeguard the human lungs to damage caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which kills about 30,000 people in the UK every year. Scientists found that a substance called sulfoprane helps activate the NRF2 gene.

This gene is found in human lung cells and helps protect them from the damage caused by toxins. The main cause of COPD is smoking. Sulfoprane, found in broccoli, not only safeguards the NRF2 gene, but helps damaged cells repair themselves.

Study author Dr Shyam Biswal said: "Future studies should target NRF2 as a novel strategy to increase antioxidant protection in the lungs and test its ability to improve lung function in people with COPD."