Whether raw, steamed or sauteed, broccoli and its cruciferous cousins (such as cauliflower and brussels sprouts) are loaded with the chemical sulforophane. The compound activates antioxidant genes and enzymes that counteract the effects of cell-damaging free radicals, according to researchers at UCLA. Since these defenses break down with age, a diet high in sulforophane-containing foods like broccoli might help give your immunity a youthful boost.
