Broccoli sprouts may prevent stomach cancer by eliminating Helicobacter Pylori, a leading cause of stomach ulcers and other serious conditions.

Based on a study of 48 Helicobacter-infected Japanese who were randomly assigned 70 grams of fresh broccoli sprouts daily for eight weeks, researchers confirmed what they long suspected, namely that the phytochemical sulforaphane found in broccoli suppressed the bacteria.

The researchers established that by assessing the severity of H. pylori infection at enrollment, at four and eight weeks using standard tests.

H. pylori levels were significantly lower at eight weeks among those patients who had eaten broccoli sprouts, while they remained the same for patients in the control group.

“Broccoli has recently entered the public awareness as a preventive dietary agent,” says Dr. Jed Fahey, research associate in the Department of Pharmacology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

“This study supports the emerging evidence that broccoli sprouts may be able to prevent cancer in humans, not just in lab animals,” he adds.

These research results emphasize the importance of a diet rich in vegetables for the maintenance of digestive health. Recent studies have also found that nutritional supplements containing probiotics may promote good digestion.