Broccoli Sprouts and Sulforaphane: What the Evidence Says

Hello Healthy Peeps!

I was recently reading about longevity research — what actually shows up in the literature when scientists study people who live a long time, and what they eat.

It led me down a long winding rabbit hole, which is how I found the video below.

It started with Blue Zones — if you're not familiar, those are regions with unusually high numbers of centenarians. The term was coined by Dan Buettner, who has done extensive research on the subject.

This journey started last week Friday (New Year's Eve) when I heard about Betty White's passing. Rest in love, Betty — and thank you for being a friend. It really put things in perspective about how long, and how fulfilling, a life you want to lead. As in my last post: I'm not a doctor. But I do want to live my best and healthiest life, and this talk by Dr. Rhonda Patrick goes deep on the research around cruciferous vegetables.

Put Netflix aside, because this video is 47 minutes and 42 seconds.

As the video itself notes, this is an in-depth review of scientific literature and should not be construed as medical advice.

What Sulforaphane Actually Is

Cruciferous vegetables — and broccoli sprouts in particular — are the richest known dietary source of sulforaphane. Sulforaphane is studied as an activator of the NRF2 pathway, which is involved in regulating a large number of genes, including ones associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and with the body's handling of harmful compounds.

That is a mechanism, not a promise. The research on NRF2 activation is genuinely interesting, but mechanism studies and cell models are a long way from proven outcomes in people. If you watch the video, notice how carefully Dr. Patrick distinguishes between the two — that distinction is the whole point.

What I'm Doing With It

I spoke to our supplier and wanted to make this available in our store. I'm currently taking sulforaphane daily and will report back on how it goes. I'm curious whether I notice anything relative to astaxanthin, which I take every other day in small doses. (People ask how I keep track of so many supplements — you should see my chart.)

Check out the video, look at the evidence yourself, and if you decide it fits your routine, browse the longevity collection or run Stack Check to see what actually fits your goals.

These opinions are my own and I am not a medical professional. During the Human Experiment podcast I have been taking these supplements myself to see how my body responds, and these posts are my results. For more, check out the Human Experiment Podcast.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Please consult a physician before adding sulforaphane or any new supplement to your routine, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.