Your mother may have told you to eat your broccoli, but it’s unlikely that it was for the same reason that Johns Hopkins University are celebrating the vegetable. Recent research conducted at the institution’s Bloomberg School of Public Health indicates that a compound found the tree-like plant may help boost the immune system and ease the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).

A study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine found that an organic molecule called sulfurophane can open up the body’s Nrf2 pathway, which is a protein transcription factor that controls cellular response to oxidative stress.

The study’s authors noted that patients with COPD often displayed poor white blood cell activity in their lungs. After examining these cells closely, they noted that the immune bodies’ ability to consume invading bacteria seemed to be compromised by free radical damage.

Sulfurophane, which can be found in broccoli, appeared to activate the cells’ Nrf2 pathway, increasing their ability to consume and remove harmful pathogens. The team noted that this finding may provide a link between diet and pulmonary disease.

Individuals who eat broccoli or consume dietary supplements containing sulfurophane may contribute to their immune response and increase feelings of health and wellness.