Scientists hope that the harvesting of what they call ”booster broccoli” — containing more vitamins and nutrients than other vegetables — will soon begin.

Bred from strains of the vegetable naturally high in antioxidants, it joins a growing crop of ”super foods” that are believed to be good enough to prevent heart disease, cancers and degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and help weight control.

Vital Vegetables chairman John says that capsicums with extra vitamins A, C and E levels, and tomatoes that can reduce risks of prostate cancer will be released in the next 12 months.

According to him, supermarkets will soon stock foods ‘boasting higher levels of goodness’ for the time poor.

”Our lifestyles seem to get faster all the time. If you can get the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables through eating less, isn’t that kind of the way we are going in the world these days?” the ‘Age’ quoted him as saying.

”I think consumers are looking at things that are better for them. And here you’re going to get more bang for your bite,” he added.

Two breakfast cereals with the potential to reduce the risk of colon and bowel cancers, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and to help control weight were released by the CSIRO last month.

Dr Bruce Lee, director of the CSIRO’s Food Futures National Research Flagship, says that other super grains to be used in breads, biscuits and pasta can be released by 2012.

”You can take supplements or you can get people to eat a healthy diet, but often it is hard to get people to change their dietary habits. ”The beauty of these types of foods is that you can add the wholegrain into the food – you are not forcing consumers to change their diet to something else,” he says.

Source: Indian Express