Broccoli

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Cancer risk³

  People who ate more broccoli were less likely to get some cancers, but scientists say more studies are needed.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar and cholesterol⁴

  In human studies, broccoli sprouts improved blood sugar and lipid levels, but evidence for broccoli, GRA and SFN is limited.

• Benefit

  Weight loss and metabolism⁵

  In people, broccoli's sulforaphane may help blood sugar and inflammation, but studies have not shown real weight loss.

• Benefit

  How much the body absorbs⁸

  Adding mustard powder to cooked broccoli helped people's bodies take in over four times more sulforaphane.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Digestive health⁹

  Broccoli stems and leaves are rich in fiber that may help with constipation and digestion.

• Benefit

  Cancer prevention¹⁰

  Broccoli holds glucosinolates, which scientists think may help prevent some cancers, but they are still studying how it works.

How it’s made and used

• Muscle soreness after exercise⁶

  In people, broccoli powder taken before hard arm exercise did not speed up muscle recovery or reduce soreness.

• Body weight and absorption⁷

  In people, eating broccoli daily changed how much sulphoraphane the body absorbed, and the effect differed by body weight.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.