TV doctor reveals the one vegetable you need to boost your health

TV Doctor Rangan Chatterjee, who has appeared on the BBC programme Doctor in the House, says that if people are going to eat any vegetable, broccoli should be the one to opt for. He even described broccoli as a ‘life saver’. Dr Chatterjee, who recently wrote the book The 4 Pillar Plan, claims the humble vegetable boosts people's gut bacteria, which helps to support their immune systems and improve their bowel health.

Previous research suggests having 'good' bacteria in the gut is also linked to people being at a healthy weight and having a reduced risk of suffering mental-health disorders. Dr Chatterjee, who recently spoke at the Guts Conversation meeting, explains why broccoli is so healthy and the importance of gut health.

“Broccoli is a life saver. It does a number of things. As it goes through the small intestine, it helps to balance your immune system. And then the fibre from the broccoli that can't be digested goes along to the colon, which is the last part of the bowel, where most of the gut bugs reside and they start feasting on the fibre and making short chain fatty acids. Short chain fatty acids are important for colon health. I find vegetables quite remarkable and when you examine what they are doing throughout the immune system it is quite incredible really.”

Source: nzherald.co.nz