Slow Mental Decline and Support Healthy Brain Function

Broccoli contains nutrients and bioactive substances that may reduce mental decline and promote healthy brain and nerve tissue function. Research on 960 older persons found that eating one serving of dark green vegetables per day, such as broccoli, may help prevent mental deterioration associated with aging. In addition, animal research found that mice given kaempferol, a chemical found in broccoli, had a decreased incidence of brain damage and less inflammation of neural tissue after a stroke-like event.

Sulforaphane is another significant bioactive chemical found in broccoli that has the ability to improve brain function during a period of decreased oxygenation to the brain. Following brain damage or toxic exposure, mice treated with sulforaphane demonstrated considerable brain tissue repair and decreased neural inflammation in several studies. The majority of current research on the influence of bioactive chemicals found in broccoli on brain health is limited to animal studies. More study is needed to establish how these chemicals help humans' brain function.