Broccoli is good for you. It’s chock full of fiber and healthy vitamins… and hey, I think it tastes pretty good, too. I love broccoli with cheese sauce, broccoli with tomato sauce, broccoli steamed with a little garlic, and even broccoli raw with a nice low-fat ranch dip. If I had to pick a favorite veggie, broccoli would be a top contender. (It might come in second place behind string beans.)
But broccoli may be popping up outside the dinner table in the near future.
A study from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine found that an extract in broccoli sprouts can reduce skin inflammation and redness by as much as forty percent. That’s pretty amazing! Inflammation and redness are two predictors of future skin cancer risk, so an agent that can reduce those factors is definitely a good thing.
The compound in question contains an antioxidant called sulforaphane. Using the broccoli sprout extract helps activate the skin’s production of protective enzymes. Once started, enzyme production usually continues for days — even after the broccoli sprout extract has been washed off the skin.
How soon will we see broccoli included in common skin care products? Products are currently in development, but they’ll probably need testing before they are available for the general public. But within a few years, we may be seeing skin care and sun protection products that include broccoli sprout extracts!
In the meantime, if you’re feeling creative and adventurous, you could try mashing broccoli sprouts and mixing up your own skin care products. I’d suggest using it like a mask — mix the broccoli sprouts with aloe vera gel or apply directly to the skin, then wipe off. You are probably better off using fresh broccoli sprouts, rather than frozen — vegetables do start to lose nutrients the instant they are picked. It’s time to make friends with somebody with a green thumb so they can grow me some broccoli!