A new study published in the Journal of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science recently found that a chemical in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables may reduce the symptoms of autism.
The study lasted 22 weeks and consisted of 44 participants, all with moderate to severe autism.The participants were split into three groups, and researchers gave two groups a daily dose of the sulforaphane. Sulforaphane is a phytochemical derived from broccoli. The amount of sulfpraphane that was given depended on the individuals weight. The third group was the control group.
At the end of week 18, researchers saw the average scores on the assessment among the two groups decreased by 17% and 34%. The assessment measured things like behavioral traits and social abilities of the participants. By the end of the study 2/3 of the participants’ social behaviors improved. 46% of the sulforaphane group showed noticeable improvement in social interaction, 54% in aberrant behaviors and 42% in verbal communication.
Even though you aren’t able to incorporate direct injections of sulforphane into your diet, you can get them from eating broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables. They’re delicious and are often overlooked. They provided great nutrient benefits and if it helps reduce symptoms of Autism and improve the quality of life for these people then why not eat more broccoli?!
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