Your trusted source

Eating lots of broccoli may slow down and even prevent osteoarthritis, UK researchers believe, according to BBC. 

The University of East Anglia team is starting human trials following on from successful lab studies.

Tests on cells and mice showed that a broccoli compound - which humans can also get from Brussels sprouts and cabbage - blocked a key destructive enzyme that damages cartilage.

They are asking 20 patients to eat a daily dose of "super-charged" broccoli.

The volunteers will have two weeks on the diet before going under the knife to have their badly arthritic knees repaired by surgeons.

While two weeks is highly unlikely to be enough to cause any big change, Dr Rose Davidson hopes it will be enough to offer some evidence that "super" broccoli could benefit humans.

"I can't imagine it would repair or reverse arthritis... but it might be a way to prevent it," she said.