Joint Pain? Super Broccoli to the Rescue!

Acai berries and chia seeds are so yesterday. The latest super food—broccoli—is a long-time supper staple for many of us.

Like most kids, I was an expert in the art of not eating my broccoli. Tactics included covering the green part of my plate with other uneaten tidbits and trying to feed veggies to my dog ... with messy results. (Sorry, Mom and Dad!) But with new research showing that broccoli reduces osteoarthritis risk, I’m now ready to eat my words—along with a healthy helping of broccoli.

Broccoli’s osteoarthritis-fighting super powers

The UK researchers found that mice fed sulforaphane—a compound in broccoli—had healthier joints. Thankfully, even nonrodents can reap the benefits of broccoli; for regular old humans, sulforaphane was also shown to ease or prevent joint pain by slowing the development of cartilage damage in osteoarthritis. Further studies will test the effectiveness of a new kind of super broccoli that has especially high amounts of sulforaphane.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis: in Canada, about one in 10 adults are affected by the condition. Beyond eating your broccoli, tried-and-true methods of lessening our risk of arthritis include maintaining a healthy weight, getting enough sleep, and staying active.

Get in your greens

Boiling broccoli may sap it of some key nutrients—but there are plenty of other ways to enjoy (yes, enjoy!) these powerful veggies.

• Dig into some Steamed Greens with Sesame Honey Dressing.
• Whip up Broccoli Pesto to enjoy with whole grain pasta.
• Cook broccoli-filled Omelettes to Go in muffin tins for a colourful and creative twist.
• Bring the kids on board by making Cheesy Waffle Soldiers with Broccoli Soup.

Do you enjoy broccoli as a snack or find ways to sneak it into dinners? Help us celebrate this humble green hero via Facebook and Twitter or in the comments below.