Broccoli has long been touted for its numerous health properties. And now, thanks to science, we could soon be munching broccoli 2.0.
Researchers have discovered that broccoli contains a large number of candidate genes, which control the accumulation of phenolic compounds in the vegetable.
Phenolic compounds have been associated with a lower risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, asthma and several types of cancer.
Experts said this finding could help them pack more phenolic compounds into broccoli in the future, to make it even healthier.
Jack Juvik, a geneticist from University of Illinois, said: "Phenolic compounds have good antioxidant activity, and there is increasing evidence that this antioxidant activity affects biochemical pathways affiliated with inflammation in mammals.
"We need inflammation because it’s a response to disease or damage, but it’s also associated with initiation of a number of degenerative diseases.
"People whose diets consist of a certain level of these compounds will have a lesser risk of contracting these diseases."
Researchers crossed two broccoli lines and analysed their total phenolic content as well as their ability to neutralise oxygen radicals.
They then used a genetic technique called "quantitative trait locus analysis" to search for the genes involved in generating phenolics in the most promising broccoli species.
By identifying the genes involved in accumulating these compounds, researchers believe they are one step closer to breeding broccoli, and other Brassica vegetables like kale and cabbage, with mega-doses of phenolic compounds.
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Juvik said: "We plan to take the candidate genes we identified here and use them in a breeding program to improve the health benefits of these vegetables.
"Meanwhile, we’ll have to make sure yield, appearance, and taste are maintained as well."
Phenolic compounds are flavourless and stable, meaning the vegetables can be cooked without losing health-promoting qualities.
Once these vegetables are consumed, the phenolic compounds are absorbed and targeted to certain areas of the body or concentrated in the liver.
Flavonoids spread through the bloodstream, reducing inflammation through their antioxidant activity.
"These are things we can’t make ourselves, so we have to get them from our diets," said Juvik.
"The compounds don’t stick around forever, so we need to eat broccoli or some other Brassica vegetable every three or four days to lower the risk of cancers and other degenerative diseases."