August 11/Coventry, England/Coventry Evening Telegraph-- Researchers at Warwick University have discovered that eating broccoli could undo the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels.

Professor Paul Thornalley and his team have found a broccoli compound called sulforaphane, which can encourage the body to produce more enzymes to protect the vessels, as well as reduce high levels of molecules which cause significant cell damage.

Past studies have shown that a diet rich in vegetables is linked to decreased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Thornalley said, "It will be important to test if eating a diet rich in brassica vegetables (like broccoli) has health benefits for diabetic patients. We expect it will."

From the August 18, 2008, Prepared Foods e-Flash